ArticleBMC plant biology2026
Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals the salt tolerance mechanisms in Lagerstroemia indica.
Article in BMC plant biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLagerstroemia indica, a key summer flower in China, has weak salt tolerance. Understanding its molecular mechanisms is crucial for breeding.
resultsIn this study, we investigated the physiological responses and the changes of gene expression and metabolites in L. indica seedlings subjected to varying concentrations of NaCl using integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. The results showed that increasing NaCl concentrations significantly inhibited root elongation and stem growth. Significant differences were observed in SOD activities, POD activities, and MDA content among treatment groups. Salt stress markedly influenced gene expression and metabolite accumulation, with the 4‰ NaCl treatment group (Li4) exhibiting the highest number of DEGs and DAMs compared to the control (Li0). Transcriptome analysis revealed that pathways including plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling, ribosome function, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, photosynthesis, and autophagy were significantly enriched. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) highlighted four key pathways: autophagy-other, peroxisome, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. Metabolomic profiling indicated that salt stress induced the accumulation of specific amino acids (L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, L-arginine, e.g.) and secondary metabolites (4-indolecarboxaldehyde, indole-3-acrylic acid, N-benzylcarboxamide, e.g.), while reducing levels of others such as L-threonine, D-sucralose, and MEHP. These compounds may serve as potential biomarkers of salt stress response in L. indica. Association analysis further indicated that biosynthesis of amino acids and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism play key roles in the response of L. indica seedlings to salt stress. Further integrative analysis revealed strong correlations between metabolites and genes. Specifically, L-threonic acid was highly correlated with Lin_chr4_0495 (VTC2), Lin_chr14_0562 (GAE), and XLOC_006237 (VTC2), while D-saccharic acid showed a strong correlation with XLOC_023487 (ARATH).
conclusionsIn this study, we investigated the physiological changes in L. indica seedlings subjected to varying concentrations of NaCl treatment. The relationship between DEGs and DAMs in L. indica was analyzed, and changes in ascorbate and aldarate metabolism were further investigated. Notably, we observed for the first time in L. indica that the accumulation of L-threonic acid exhibits a significant positive correlation with key ascorbate and aldarate metabolism genes, namely VTC2 (Lin_chr4_0495), GAE (Lin_chr14_0562), and VTC2 (XLOC_006237). Additionally, the content of D-saccharic acid was found to be closely associated with the glucose metabolism-related gene ARATH (XLOC_023487). These specific molecular associations advance our understanding of the salt tolerance mechanism from the pathway level to precise metabolic markers and functional genes, thereby providing a direct operational foundation and candidate genes for marker-assisted selection or genetic engineering to improve salt tolerance in L. indica.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.