Comparative proteomics analysis between maize and sorghum uncovers important proteins and metabolic pathways mediating drought tolerance
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Drought severely affects crop yield and yield stability. Maize and sorghum are major crops
in Africa and globally, and both are negatively impacted by drought. However, sorghum has a better
ability to withstand drought than maize. Consequently, this study identifies differences between
maize and sorghum grown in water deficit conditions, and identifies proteins associated with drought
tolerance in these plant species. Leaf relative water content and proline content were measured, and
label-free proteomics analysis was carried out to identify differences in protein expression in the two
species in response to water deficit. Water deficit enhanced the proline accumulation in sorghum
roots to a higher degree than in maize, and this higher accumulation was associated with enhanced
water retention in sorghum. Proteomic analyses identified proteins with differing expression patterns
between the two species, revealing key metabolic pathways that explain the better drought tolerance
of sorghum than maize.
Description
Keywords
Proteomic analysis, Biotechnology, Drought stress, Sorghum bicolor, South Africa
Citation
Ali, A. E. E. et al. (2023). Comparative proteomics analysis between maize and sorghum uncovers important proteins and metabolic pathways mediating drought tolerance. Life, 13(1), 170. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010170