Partial Chemical Characterization of Drought-Related Metabolites in Maize Under Drought Stress Conditions

This study investigates the metabolic response of maize genotypes UASBM13 (drought-tolerant) and UASBM10 (drought-sensitive) to drought stress using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Drought stress significantly impacts crop productivity, with potential consequences for global food security. Secondary metabolites produced by maize under drought conditions, provide insights into molecular response. The identified metabolites include sinapic acid, sinapoyl malate, coumaroyl shikimate, caffeoyl shikimate, syriogenin, sinapaldehyde, hydroxy ferulate, naringenin chalcone, and resveratrol. These compounds play crucial roles in antioxidant defence, lignification, and stress-related pathways. The results suggest that UASBM13 exhibits a more robust metabolic response to drought, with higher levels of key metabolites associated with stress tolerance. The findings contribute to our understanding of plant adaptation to environmental stress and provide valuable information for developing drought-tolerant crop varieties to ensure global food security in the context of a changing climate and growing population.