PR002105 (Project)

Description:Advances in combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput screening methods have led to renewed interest in synthetic plant immune activators as well as priming agents. 3,5-Dichloroanthranilic acid (3,5-DCAA) is a derivative of anthranilic acid that have shown potency in activating defence mechanisms in Arabidopsis and barley plants. Chemical biology which is the interface of chemistry and biology can make use of metabolomics approaches and tools to better understand molecular mechanisms operating in complex biological systems. Aim: Here we report on the untargeted metabolomics profiling of barley seedlings treated with 3,5-DCAA to gain deeper insights into the mechanism of action of this resistance inducer. Methodology: Hydro-methanolic extracts from different time periods (12, 24 and 36 h post-treatment) were analysed on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with a high-resolution mass spectrometer. Both unsupervised and supervised chemometric methods were used to reveal hidden patterns and highlight metabolite variables associated with the treatment. Results: Based on the metabolites identified, both the phenylpropanoid and octadecanoid pathways appear to be main route activated by 3,5-DCAA. Different classes of responsive metabolites were annotated with favonoids, more especially flavones, the most dominant. Given the limited understanding of this inducer, this study offers a metabolomics analysis of the response triggered by its foliar application in barley. This additional insight could help make informed decision for the development of more effective strategies for crop protection and improvement, ultimately contributing to agricultural sustainability and resilience.