Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling of Germinating Soybean (Glycine max) Seeds under Combined Abiotic and Biotic Stress by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy

Abstract

Agriculture in India predominantly relies on the monsoon. After seed sowing, if no rain occurs for 8 to 10 days, it results in a brief drought. During the seed germination process, this climatic condition induces fungal infection in the seeds. This results in seed determination and farmers need to perform resowing. In this study, soybean seeds were subjected to drought, fungi (Aspergillus flavus), and combined drought-fungi stress treatments for 24 and 96 hours. The secondary metabolites were extracted in 80% methanol after stress treatment, and the samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Differential profile of secondary metabolites observed in various stress conditions up to 96 hours. On the first day 2,3, butanediol was found in drought, fungi and combined drought-fungi stress conditions. Methyl-6-(1 Methylpropyl)–galactopyranoside was observed in drought and combined drought-fungi stress conditions for 96 hours. The molecules observed in such stress conditions have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant activities, which shield the plant in various stress conditions.