[Physiological and biochemical regulatory mechanisms of salicylic acid in Panax ginseng under low-temperature stress based on transcriptomics and metabolomics].

Low-temperature stress severely inhibits the growth of Panax ginseng and reduces its yield. Salicylic acid(SA) can enhance plant cold tolerance; however, the molecular mechanisms by which SA regulates P. ginseng's response to low-temperature stress remain unclear. In this study, physiological measurements, transcriptomic analysis, and metabolomic profiling were employed to systematically investigate the regulatory effects of SA on P. ginseng under low-temperature stress.

RESULTS

: showed that exogenous SA treatment markedly alleviated cellular damage, enhanced antioxidant capacity and osmotic regulator levels, promoted endogenous SA accumulation, and modulated ginsenoside biosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that SA treatment significantly regulated 5 953 differentially expressed genes, enriched in pathways including carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and signal transduction. Metabolomic analysis identified 73 differential metabolites involved in key pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism and purine metabolism. Overall, SA enhances P. ginseng's tolerance to low-temperature stress by activating antioxidant systems, balancing hormone levels, and regulating purine and lipid metabolic pathways. This study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the cold-resistance mechanisms of P. ginseng and for breeding cold-tolerant varieties.