Metabolomics and Carbon-Nitrogen Metabolism Mechanisms of Different Heat-Tolerant Watermelon Seedlings under Heat Stress

doi:10.7668/hbnxb.20196899

Abstract

Abstract:

To elucidate the metabolic regulatory mechanisms underlying the heat stress response in watermelon seedlings, this study utilized the heat-sensitive variety D27 and the heat-tolerant variety K53 as experimental materials. By combining metabolomic analysis with physiological measurements of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, we investigated the differential responses of these two watermelon cultivars to heat stress. The results revealed seven common differential metabolites under heat stress, while 26 distinct differential metabolites were identified between the two heat-tolerant cultivars. The alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolic pathways were significantly activated, and the levels of L-aspartate and L-glutamate were markedly upregulated. In terms of carbon metabolism, the heat-tolerant variety K53 exhibited significantly increased contents of soluble sugars, sucrose, fructose, and starch, whereas heat-sensitive variety D27 showed a decrease in starch content. Regarding nitrogen metabolism, heat inhibited nitrate reductase activity; in the heat-sensitive variety D27, significant accumulation of ammonium nitrogen occurred, whereas in the heat-tolerant variety K53, ammonium nitrogen accumulation was reduced through the maintenance of high glutamate synthase activity(GOGAT), and the GS/GOGAT cycle exhibited greater stability. In conclusion, this study reveals that differential regulation of amino acid metabolism and carbon-nitrogen metabolism constitutes key metabolic pathways underlying watermelon heat tolerance, and that the stability of the GS/GOGAT cycle represents an important heat-tolerance mechanism. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the breeding of heat-tolerant watermelon varieties and the enhancement of agricultural productivity.

Key words: Citrullus lanatus, Heat stress, Metabolomics, Carbon and nitrogen metabolism

CLC Number:

S651

XU Lingxing, ZHANG Liangge, LI Ai, DENG Wen, LANG Junkai, ZHU Jiawei, ZHANG Weihua. Metabolomics and Carbon-Nitrogen Metabolism Mechanisms of Different Heat-Tolerant Watermelon Seedlings under Heat Stress[J]. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-Sinica, 2026, 41(5): 63-73. doi: 10.7668/hbnxb.20196899.

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Figures/Tables 6

Fig.1 Analysis of leaf metabolites in heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant watermelon seedlings under heat stress A.Pie chart showing the classification of metabolites after heat stress in different inbred lines;B.Principal component analysis of metabolites under different heat treatment times;C.Venn diagram of metabolites after heat stress in different inbred lines;D.Venn diagram of metabolites under different heat treatment times.

Fig.2 Cluster analysis of metabolites in leaves of watermelon seedlings after heat stress of heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant types

Fig.3 Leaf metabolic pathways of heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant watermelon seedlings after heat stress

Fig.4 KEGG classification diagram of heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant watermelon treatment combinations after heat stress

Fig.5 Changes in sugar and starch content and key enzyme activities of carbon metabolism in heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant watermelon under heat stress Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences in the comparison of different inbred lines with different treatment times(P<0.05). The same as Fig.6.

Fig.6 Changes in nitrogen content and key enzyme activities of nitrogen metabolism in heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant watermelon varieties under heat stress

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