Spatial Heterogeneity of Metabolic Response to Drought Stress in Medicago lupulina L. Leaves.

ABSTRACT: Background: Drought stress is a primary environmental constraint limiting crop growth and productivity. Current drought-related plant research predominantly focuses on whole-leaf analyses, neglecting the spatial heterogeneity of metabolites within leaf tissues. Methods: This study combined transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to investigate spatially distinct metabolic responses in marginal versus central regions of Medicago lupulina L. leaves under PEG-simulated drought. Results: Findings demonstrated that TCA cycle metabolites exhibited relative stability between leaf margins and centers under drought conditions, suggesting preserved core metabolic functionality in central tissues to sustain stress tolerance. Additionally, shikimic acid displayed a signif

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844375 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature