Comparative Metabolic Profiling of Drought-Tolerant and Drought-Sensitive Maize Inbred Lines under Drought Stress

This study investigates the metabolic responses of plant species under mild drought stress, by comparing drought tolerant UASBM 13 and drought sensitive UASBM10 maize inbred lines. Study emphasized the synthesis and upregulation of crucial metabolites associated with antioxidant activities and cell wall lignification. Metabolites such as syringentin, naringenin chalcone, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, Sinapoyl Malate, and resveratrol were explored for their potential roles in mitigating drought-induced oxidative stress and fortifying cellular structures. Under mild stress, naringenin chalcone exhibited consistent upregulation, indicating its involvement in antioxidant activity and cell wall lignification. The study observed significant upregulation of sinapic acid, Sinapoyl Malate, and resveratrol in tolerant lines, suggesting their role in drought tolerance. Additionally, metabolites related to cell wall lignification were induced in response to drought stress, contributing to the overall drought tolerance in plants. The findings highlight the intricate metabolic mechanisms involved in plant adaptation to drought stress and the potential applications of these metabolites in enhancing drought resilience.