Water scarcity increasingly threatens crop production, particularly in species with limited stress adaptability such as eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). To investigate the molecular basis of drought tolerance, we performed an integrated physiological and transcriptomic analysis on two genotypes from the G2P-SOL core collection (www.g2p-sol.eu): the tolerant Spanish cultivar ‘Berenjena de rabo largo’ (G2P-SOL code GPE020510) and the susceptible Chinese cultivar ‘Qianzi’ (code GPE008940). Physiological assessments under progressive drought revealed that the tolerant genotype maintained significantly higher stem water potential, suggesting superior water retention capacity and delayed stress perception. Transcriptomic profiling highlighted markedly different response strategies: the tolerant line exhibited limited but focused transcriptional changes, with consistent enrichment in plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, supporting a model of pre-configured, energy-efficient stress response. In contrast, the susceptible genotype showed widespread transcriptional reprogramming, including overactivation of photosynthetic, primary metabolic, and amino acid biosynthesis pathways, reflecting a reactive and metabolically costly adaptation. Notably, the tolerant genotype already displayed activation of stress-related pathways under non-stressed conditions, indicating a form of transcriptional priming. These findings underline fundamental genotypic differences in drought adaptation and identify molecular targets with potential relevance for breeding resilient eggplant varieties under water-limited conditions.
Dissecting Drought Adaptation in Eggplant Through Integrated Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses
Martina M.;Morabito C.;Tricerri N.;Milani A. M.;Comino C.;Barchi L.;Moglia A.;Acquadro A.;Secchi F.;Portis E
2025-01-01
Abstract
Water scarcity increasingly threatens crop production, particularly in species with limited stress adaptability such as eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). To investigate the molecular basis of drought tolerance, we performed an integrated physiological and transcriptomic analysis on two genotypes from the G2P-SOL core collection (www.g2p-sol.eu): the tolerant Spanish cultivar ‘Berenjena de rabo largo’ (G2P-SOL code GPE020510) and the susceptible Chinese cultivar ‘Qianzi’ (code GPE008940). Physiological assessments under progressive drought revealed that the tolerant genotype maintained significantly higher stem water potential, suggesting superior water retention capacity and delayed stress perception. Transcriptomic profiling highlighted markedly different response strategies: the tolerant line exhibited limited but focused transcriptional changes, with consistent enrichment in plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, supporting a model of pre-configured, energy-efficient stress response. In contrast, the susceptible genotype showed widespread transcriptional reprogramming, including overactivation of photosynthetic, primary metabolic, and amino acid biosynthesis pathways, reflecting a reactive and metabolically costly adaptation. Notably, the tolerant genotype already displayed activation of stress-related pathways under non-stressed conditions, indicating a form of transcriptional priming. These findings underline fundamental genotypic differences in drought adaptation and identify molecular targets with potential relevance for breeding resilient eggplant varieties under water-limited conditions.
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