Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Drought Resistance Mechanisms in Sorghum Varieties

This study thoroughly investigates the drought resistance mechanisms of sorghum through metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. The drought-tolerant variety GL220 and the drought-sensitive variety GL98 were evaluated. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in metabolites and gene expression across the various comparison groups. At the metabolic level, both up-regulated and down-regulated metabolites were identified, encompassing key metabolic pathways such as those related to amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. At the gene level, a total of 8,904 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and annotated using databases such as KEGG and GO. KEGG analysis indicated that pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis and carbon metabolism, were significantly enriched under drought conditions. GO enrichment analysis highlighted the clustering of DEGs in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions, particularly in areas such as cellular structure and molecular functions, including membrane, nucleus, and ATP binding. These findings offer a novel perspective on the understanding of drought resistance in sorghum and contribute to efforts aimed at improving sorghum varieties to enhance their growth capabilities in drought-prone environments.