Abstract
Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and stress resistance, and K deficiency severely limits sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) yield and oil quality. Despite substantial genotypic variation in K tolerance among sesame cultivars, the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation remain poorly characterized. Here, an integrated physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis was performed on two contrasting sesame cultivars (K sensitive ZZ9 and K tolerant WZM6) grown under low K (LK, 0.2 mmol L− 1) and adequate K (CK, 2 mmol L− 1) conditions to identify key traits and genes associated with K tolerance. Physiological analysis showed that low K stress inhibited plant growth, reduced leaf K content, and altered photosynthetic and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activities in both cultivars. WZM6 maintained better performance with 34.3% less reduction in plant height, 29.5% less loss in leaf K content, and 12.8% reduction in Rubisco activity. Transcriptomic profiling identified 513 and 195 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZZ9-LK vs. ZZ9-CK and WZM6-LK vs. WZM6-CK, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that DEGs in ZZ9 were enriched in protein metabolic processes and mRNA surveillance pathway, while WZM6 DEGs were associated with small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolism. Key K transporter genes (HAK5, POT5, POT6) and nitrate transporters (NRT2.1) were more highly upregulated in WZM6, contributing to its superior K uptake capacity. Metabolomic analysis detected 294 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with 102 and 96 cultivar specific DAMs in ZZ9 and WZM6, which were enriched in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and biosynthesis of amino acids. Integrated transcriptomic-metabolomic analysis highlighted glutamate biosynthesis (GS/GOGAT pathway) and sucrose metabolism as core regulatory networks, with WZM6 maintaining stable glutamine accumulation and sucrose synthase activity under low K stress. Therefore, WZM6 achieves K tolerance through enhanced K uptake via transporters, targeted transcriptional regulation, and metabolic remodeling of carbon-nitrogen metabolism. Our findings provide valuable genetic resources and candidate genes for breeding K efficient varieties, which is essential for improving yield stability and reducing K fertilizer inputs in K deficient fields.
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Claims 19
Claim · model-written summary
Low K stress inhibits plant growth in sesame relative to adequate K.
- Taxon
- sesame
Sesamum indicumt0 - Treatment
- low K stresse1
- Outcome
- plant growthe1
- Direction
- inhibitede1
- Comparator
- adequate Ke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“low K stress inhibited plant growth, reduced leaf K content, and altered photosynthetic and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activities in both cultivars”
e0“adequate K”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Low K stress reduces leaf K content in sesame relative to adequate K.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Treatment
- low K stresse1
- Outcome
- leaf K contente1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Comparator
- adequate Ke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“low K stress inhibited plant growth, reduced leaf K content, and altered photosynthetic and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activities in both cultivars”
e0“adequate K”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Low K stress alters photosynthetic and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activities in sesame.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Treatment
- low K stresse1
- Outcome
- photosynthetic and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activitiese1
- Direction
- alterede1
- Comparator
- adequate Ke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“low K stress inhibited plant growth, reduced leaf K content, and altered photosynthetic and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activities in both cultivars”
e0“adequate K”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 shows 34.3% less reduction in plant height under low K than under adequate K.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e2
- Outcome
- plant heighte2
- Direction
- less reductione2
- Value
- 34.3%e2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“WZM6 maintained better performance with 34.3% less reduction in plant height, 29.5% less loss in leaf K content, and 12.8% reduction in Rubisco activity”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 shows 29.5% less loss in leaf K content under low K.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“WZM6 maintained better performance with 34.3% less reduction in plant height, 29.5% less loss in leaf K content, and 12.8% reduction in Rubisco activity”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 shows a 12.8% reduction in Rubisco activity under low K.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“WZM6 maintained better performance with 34.3% less reduction in plant height, 29.5% less loss in leaf K content, and 12.8% reduction in Rubisco activity”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
ZZ9 shows 513 unique differentially expressed genes under low K relative to adequate K.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- ZZ9e3
- Outcome
- unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs)e3
- Value
- 513e3
- Comparator
- ZZ9-CKe3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Transcriptomic profiling identified 513 and 195 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZZ9-LK vs. ZZ9-CK and WZM6-LK vs. WZM6-CK, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that DEGs in ZZ9 were enriched in protein metabolic processes and mRNA surveillance pathway, while WZM6 DEGs were associated with small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolism”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 shows 195 unique differentially expressed genes under low K relative to adequate K.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e3
- Outcome
- unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs)e3
- Value
- 195e3
- Comparator
- WZM6-CKe3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Transcriptomic profiling identified 513 and 195 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZZ9-LK vs. ZZ9-CK and WZM6-LK vs. WZM6-CK, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that DEGs in ZZ9 were enriched in protein metabolic processes and mRNA surveillance pathway, while WZM6 DEGs were associated with small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolism”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
DEGs in ZZ9 are enriched in protein metabolic processes and the mRNA surveillance pathway.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- ZZ9e3
- Outcome
- protein metabolic processes and mRNA surveillance pathwaye3
- Direction
- enrichede3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Transcriptomic profiling identified 513 and 195 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZZ9-LK vs. ZZ9-CK and WZM6-LK vs. WZM6-CK, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that DEGs in ZZ9 were enriched in protein metabolic processes and mRNA surveillance pathway, while WZM6 DEGs were associated with small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolism”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 DEGs are associated with small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolism.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e3
- Outcome
- small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolisme3
- Direction
- associatede3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Transcriptomic profiling identified 513 and 195 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZZ9-LK vs. ZZ9-CK and WZM6-LK vs. WZM6-CK, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that DEGs in ZZ9 were enriched in protein metabolic processes and mRNA surveillance pathway, while WZM6 DEGs were associated with small molecule metabolism, intracellular transport, and carbon/amino acid metabolism”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
The K transporter genes HAK5, POT5 and POT6 are more highly upregulated in WZM6.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e4
- Gene
- HAK5, POT5, POT6e4
- Outcome
- K transporter genese4
- Direction
- more highly upregulatede4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Key K transporter genes (HAK5, POT5, POT6) and nitrate transporters (NRT2.1) were more highly upregulated in WZM6”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
The nitrate transporter gene NRT2.1 is more highly upregulated in WZM6.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e4
- Gene
- NRT2.1e4
- Outcome
- nitrate transporterse4
- Direction
- more highly upregulatede4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Key K transporter genes (HAK5, POT5, POT6) and nitrate transporters (NRT2.1) were more highly upregulated in WZM6”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Metabolomic analysis detected 294 differentially accumulated metabolites in sesame.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Outcome
- differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs)e5
- Value
- 294e5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“Metabolomic analysis detected 294 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with 102 and 96 cultivar specific DAMs in ZZ9 and WZM6, which were enriched in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and biosynthesis of amino acids”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
ZZ9 has 102 cultivar specific differentially accumulated metabolites.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- ZZ9e5
- Outcome
- cultivar specific DAMse5
- Value
- 102e5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“Metabolomic analysis detected 294 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with 102 and 96 cultivar specific DAMs in ZZ9 and WZM6, which were enriched in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and biosynthesis of amino acids”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 has 96 cultivar specific differentially accumulated metabolites.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e5
- Outcome
- cultivar specific DAMse5
- Value
- 96e5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“Metabolomic analysis detected 294 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with 102 and 96 cultivar specific DAMs in ZZ9 and WZM6, which were enriched in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and biosynthesis of amino acids”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Cultivar specific metabolites are enriched in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and amino acid biosynthesis.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Outcome
- plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and biosynthesis of amino acidse5
- Direction
- enrichede5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“Metabolomic analysis detected 294 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with 102 and 96 cultivar specific DAMs in ZZ9 and WZM6, which were enriched in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ABC transports and biosynthesis of amino acids”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Glutamate biosynthesis (GS/GOGAT pathway) and sucrose metabolism are highlighted as core regulatory networks.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Outcome
- glutamate biosynthesis (GS/GOGAT pathway) and sucrose metabolisme6
- Qualifier
- core regulatory networkse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“Integrated transcriptomic-metabolomic analysis highlighted glutamate biosynthesis (GS/GOGAT pathway) and sucrose metabolism as core regulatory networks, with WZM6 maintaining stable glutamine accumulation and sucrose synthase activity under low K stress”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 maintains stable glutamine accumulation and sucrose synthase activity under low K stress.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e6
- Treatment
- low K stresse6
- Outcome
- glutamine accumulation and sucrose synthase activitye6
- Direction
- stablee6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“Integrated transcriptomic-metabolomic analysis highlighted glutamate biosynthesis (GS/GOGAT pathway) and sucrose metabolism as core regulatory networks, with WZM6 maintaining stable glutamine accumulation and sucrose synthase activity under low K stress”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
WZM6 achieves K tolerance through enhanced K uptake via transporters, targeted transcriptional regulation and carbon-nitrogen metabolic remodeling.
- Taxon
- sesameSesamum indicumt0
- Material
- WZM6e7
- Outcome
- K tolerancee7
- Qualifier
- enhanced K uptake via transporterse7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“WZM6 achieves K tolerance through enhanced K uptake via transporters, targeted transcriptional regulation, and metabolic remodeling of carbon-nitrogen metabolism”
t0“potassium deficiency in sesame”
The same questions in other papers
potassium · nutrient: content · Sesamum indicum (sesame)Positive and negative results
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See all 8 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.