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β-Aminobutyric acid increases drought tolerance and reorganizes solute content and water homeostasis in flax (Linum usitatissimum)

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Abstract

β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a non-protein amino acid that induces drought tolerance in plants. The mechanisms involved in this tolerance are still poorly understood. In the present study, metabolomic and ionomic profiling performed in flax (Linum usitatissimum) leaves revealed that BABA induces a major reorganization in solute content. This reorganization resulted in increased accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates and proline and a decrease in inorganic solutes. This response has high similarities with that obtained when flax is exposed to an osmotic stress. BABA treatment also induced a decrease in osmotic potential and a change in water status of flax leaves. These modifications are accompanied by an improvement in drought tolerance.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the French Picardie Region. FM wishes to acknowledge COST Action FA 1006 Plant Metabolic Engineering for High Value Products.

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All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. EA 3900-BIOPI Biologie des Plantes et Innovation, IUT d’Amiens, Département Génie Biologique, Avenue des Facultés, Le Bailly et Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1, rue des Louvels, 80025, Amiens Cedex, France

      Anthony Quéro, Ophélie Fliniaux, Redouan Elboutachfaiti, Emmanuel Petit, Josiane Courtois & François Mesnard

    2. Laboulet Semences, 1 rue Carnot, 80270, Airaines, France

      Xavier Guillot

    3. UGSF, UMR 8576 CNRS, Université Lille 1, Bât C9, F-59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

      Simon Hawkins

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    1. Anthony Quéro
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    Josiane Courtois and François Mesnard have contributed equally to the article.

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    Quéro, A., Fliniaux, O., Elboutachfaiti, R. et al. β-Aminobutyric acid increases drought tolerance and reorganizes solute content and water homeostasis in flax (Linum usitatissimum). Metabolomics 11, 1363–1375 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-015-0792-9

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