Non-targeted metabolomic evaluations during seed germination and seedling growth in Salicornia brachiata (Roxb.) under saline conditions

Experimental studies were conducted for metabolomic profiling during seed germination and seedling development in Salicornia brachaita under saline conditions. The results revealed accumulation of sucrose, mannose, glycerol, methionine, tryptophan, glycerol, protocathechoic acid, and mannonic acid in germinating seeds. Abundance of rhamnose, glucose, glutamine, fructose, ornithine, quininic acid, proline and ketoglutaric acid were recorded during emergence of radical (EoR) and cotyledonary stage (CS) at 50% strength of seawater (SW) salinity. Higher levels of myo-inositol, ethanolamine, isoleucine and talose at 48 hours (hrs) of imbibition, EoR and CS stages; while glycine, tyrosine and turanose were so at CS stage only. Under 200 mM NaCl, richness of stearic acid, quercetin, leucine, erythritol and psicose were noted at 48 hrs of imbibition followed by EoR stage. Fructose, ornithine, mannitol, asparagine, mallic acid, glucose and citric acid were abundant at EoR whereas aminobutanoic acid, hexanedioic acid and tyramine were so at CS stage. Among detected metabolites maximum number of metabolites showed hits with amioacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway and the amino acid biosynthesis pathway had maximum impact during seedling development. Role of metabolic pathways (including amino acid metabolism) and differential expression of genes related to these pathways are suggested in meeting the energy needs for varied biological activities during seed germination and subsequent seedling development in S. brachiata.