Transcriptomic Analysis Provides Insights into the Differential Effects of Aluminum on Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Genes (Basel). 2022 Oct 10;13(10):1830. doi: 10.3390/genes13101830.

Abstract

In acidic soils, high concentrations of aluminum ions (Al3+) in dissolved form reduce root growth and development of most crops. In addition, Al3+ is also a beneficial element in some plant species in low concentrations. However, the regulatory mechanism of the growth and development of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) treated with different concentrations of Al3+ has been rarely studied. In this study, peanut seedlings were treated with AlCl3.18H2O in Hoagland nutrient solution at four different concentrations of Al3+, i.e., 0 (pH 6.85), 1.25 (pH 4.03), 2.5 (pH 3.85), and 5 (pH 3.69) mmol/L, which are regarded as Al0, Al1, Al2, and Al3. The results showed that low concentrations of Al treatment (Al1) promoted peanut growth, while high concentrations of Al treatments (Al2 and Al3) significantly inhibited peanut growth. Compared with the control (Al0), transcriptome analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of starch and sucrose metabolic pathways were significantly enriched at low concentrations, i.e., Al1 treatment, whereas the expression of AhERD6 (sugar transporter) was significantly up-regulated, and the soluble sugar content was significantly increased. The DEGs of the plant hormone signaling transduction pathway were significantly enriched at high concentrations of Al2 and Al3 treatments, whereas the expression of AhNCED1 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) was significantly up-regulated, and the content of ABA was significantly increased. Moreover, the expression of transcription factors (TFs) in peanut was affected by different concentrations of Al. Overall, low concentrations of Al1 promoted peanut growth by increasing soluble sugar content, while high concentrations of Al2 and Al3 inhibited the growth of peanut, induced AhNCED1 gene expression, and increased endogenous ABA content. For peanut, the exposure of Al at low concentrations not only derived an adaptive mechanism to cope with Al stress, but also acted as a stimulator to promote its growth and development.

Keywords: ABA; aluminum; peanut; soluble sugar; transcription factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum* / toxicity
  • Arachis*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism
  • Plant Growth Regulators / pharmacology
  • Soil
  • Starch / metabolism
  • Sucrose / metabolism
  • Sugars / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Aluminum
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Sugars
  • Starch
  • Sucrose
  • Soil

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (32071737, 32111530289, and 32101802), a grant from the Applied Basic Research Programs of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Guangdong Province (2019A1515110867), and grants from the Department of Education of Guangdong Province (2020ZDZX1013). It was also supported by the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province (2021A050530073) and the Agricultural and Rural Department of Guangdong Province (KB1708008) and the Postgraduate Science and Technology Innovation Project of Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering (KJCX2022024).