树轮代谢组学揭示雪岭云杉与西伯利亚落叶松对梯度干旱的差异化响应

Divergent metabolic responses of Picea schrenkiana and Larix sibirica to a drought gradient revealed by tree-ring metabolomics

摘要

【目的】东天山雪岭云杉和西伯利亚落叶松对干旱的响应差异已在树轮宽度和稳定同位素研究中得到证实，但上述指标反映的是树木宏观生长与水分利用的表型结果，无法揭示不同干旱强度下两类树种的微观代谢响应特征。为阐明不同树种干旱响应差异的内在代谢调控机制，本研究从代谢角度，比较两树种在不同干旱强度下的差异代谢物数量变化及关键通路响应特征。【方法】以雪岭云杉和西伯利亚落叶松为研究对象，基于游程理论划分干旱强度，利用树轮非靶向代谢组学获取代谢物数据，经数据库比对鉴定代谢物，结合多元统计分析筛选差异代谢物，并通过 KEGG 数据库进行代谢通路富集分析。【结果】（1）从轻度干旱至中度干旱，雪岭云杉差异代谢物数量由 330 个增至 513 个；西伯利亚落叶松则由 1 182 个减至 220 个。（2）轻度干旱下两树种均富集类黄酮生物合成通路，但代谢物变化趋势不同；中度干旱下，雪岭云杉富集木脂素合成通路并抑制色氨酸代谢通路，西伯利亚落叶松仅保留半乳糖代谢通路发生持续响应。【结论】两类树种在不同干旱梯度下表现出差异化的代谢响应特征，雪岭云杉的代谢响应随干旱加剧而增强，西伯利亚落叶松在轻度干旱下代谢响应广泛，中度干旱下响应减弱。本研究从代谢层面明确了不同生活型树种在不同干旱强度下的差异化响应模式，为理解针叶树种的干旱适应机制提供了代谢层面的依据。

Abstract

[Objective] Tree-ring width and stable isotopes have revealed differential drought responses between Picea schrenkiana and Larix sibirica in the eastern Tianshan Mountains. These approaches, however, capture macroscopic outcomes of growth and water use, and thus fall short of resolving species-specific metabolic adjustments under varying drought intensities. To address this gap, we compared the two species across drought gradients, with emphasis on changes in differential metabolite abundance and key pathway responses. [Method] We selected Picea schrenkiana and Larix sibirica as the study species. Drought intensities were classified using runs theory applied to the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI). Metabolites from tree-ring samples were profiled via untargeted metabolomics and identified through database matching. We then screened differential metabolites by multivariate statistical analysis and mapped them to KEGG pathways. [Result] (1) From mild to moderate drought, the number of differential metabolites in Picea schrenkiana increased from 330 to 513, whereas that in Larix sibirica fell from 1 182 to 220. (2) Under mild drought, both species enriched the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway，yet their metabolite accumulation patterns diverged. Under moderate drought, Picea schrenkiana enriched the lignin biosynthesis pathway while suppressing the tryptophan metabolism pathway； Larix sibirica, by contrast, retained only the galactose metabolism pathway as a sustained response. [Conclusion] The two species displayed distinct metabolic response patterns across the drought gradient. Picea schrenkiana strengthened its metabolic response with increasing drought severity, whereas Larix sibirica showed broad responses under mild drought but weakened ones under moderate drought. These findings highlight the divergent metabolic strategies of evergreen and deciduous conifers under varying drought intensities, and provide metabolic-level evidence for understanding drought adaptation in coniferous species.

关键词

雪岭云杉 / 西伯利亚落叶松 / 树轮代谢组学 / 干旱胁迫 / 差异代谢响应

Key words

Picea schrenkiana / Larix sibirica / tree-ring metabolomics / drought stress / differential metabolic response

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基金资助

新疆维吾尔自治区天山英才培养计划(2024TSYCCX0041)

新疆维吾尔自治区天山创新团队(2025D14004)

新疆维吾尔自治区杰出青年科学基金项目

国家自然科学基金项目(42375054、42675059)

中国气象科学研究院创新发展专项(2021KJ034)