Integrated Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Analyses Revealed Molecular Mechanism for Salt Resistance in Soybean (Glycine max L.) Seedlings

Abstract

Salt stress poses a significant challenge to plant growth and restricts agricultural development. To delve into the intricate mechanisms involved in soybean’s response to salt stress and find targets to improve the salt resistance of soybean, this study integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses to explore the regulatory networks involved in soybean salt tolerance. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant changes in transcription factors, hormone-related groups, and calcium ion signaling. Notably, the biosynthetic pathways of cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis play an important role in this process. Proteomic results indicated salt-induced DNA methylation and the enrichment of phosphopyruvate hydrase post-salt stress, as well as its interaction with enzymes from various metabolic pathways. Metabolomic data unveiled the synthesis of various metabolites, including lipids and flavonoids, in soybean following salt stress. Furthermore, the integrated multiomics results highlighted the activation of multiple metabolic pathways in soybean in response to salt stress, with six pathways standing out prominently: stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid, and gingerol biosynthesis; carotenoid biosynthesis; carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; thiamine metabolism; and pyruvate metabolism. These findings not only offer valuable insights into leveraging multiomics profiling techniques for uncovering salt tolerance mechanisms but also identify candidate genes for soybean improvement.