Insights concerning advancing the agroecological sustainability of salinity tolerance through proteomics profiling of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat plays a significant role in the provision of food and nutrition. However, rapid soil salinization poses a severe threat to its production worldwide. Salt stress stunts wheat growth and quality, resulting in low grain yields. The adaptation of wheat to salinity involves complex physio-biochemical and molecular mechanisms. This study aimed to identify the genetic approaches concerning salt stress-responsive proteins and protein pathways in wheat roots under controlled (0 mM) and NaCl stress (250 mM) solution using label-free proteo-mic quantification analysis. We found a significant accumulation of Na+ in the leaf and root compared with the controlled condition. Besides, we identified 2436 proteins enhanced under salt stress, with 198 differen-tially abundant proteins (DAPs), including 170 up-regulated and 28 down-regulated proteins. Many of these proteins were involved in salinity tolerance, including heat shock proteins, glutathione S-transferase, dehy-drin, peroxidase, potassium channel beta subunit-type H+-ATPase, superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn), 14-3-3 protein, peroxidase, malate dehydrogenase, and heat shock proteins. The abundance of a V-type H+ ATPase and 14-3-3 protein was also enhanced, facilitating Na+ compartmentalization in the vacuole through the salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway. Additionally, many antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and thioredoxins, were up-regulated, playing a vital role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) in salinity-stressed wheat roots. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses showed that salinity stress enhances the abundance of proteins in several meta-bolic pathways, such as the citrate cycle, ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, carbon metabolism, and cytoplasm. We anticipate that the identified proteins under salinity conditions will provide us with a deeper understanding of their application in agriculture biotechnology.(c) 2023 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Wheat plays a significant role in providing food and nutrition, but rapid soil salinization poses a severe threat to its production. This study aimed to identify the genetic approaches concerning salt stress-responsive proteins and protein pathways in wheat roots. The results showed significant accumulation of Na+ and identified numerous proteins involved in salinity tolerance and antioxidant defense mechanisms.