Molecular Soil Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 205-215 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 209 but increases ROS and antioxidant activities, which are crucial for plant survival under drought conditions (Sun et al., 2020). Variations in leaf water content (LWC) among different plant communities indicate that species in arid environments have evolved higher LWC to cope with water scarcity, thereby altering community structure (Wang et al., 2021). These adaptations result in more homogeneous community structure dominated by drought-resistant species, reducing overall species diversity. 5.2 Impact on ecosystem functions and services Drought-induced changes in plant communities have profound effects on ecosystem functions and services. The reduction in plant growth and photosynthesis under water stress conditions can lead to decreased primary productivity, evapotranspiration (ETP), and WUE, affect the structure, composition and function of ecosystem (Sun et al., 2020). Moreover, alterations in floral traits due to water deficit can impact plant-pollinator interactions, potentially reducing pollination services and affecting plant reproduction and biodiversity (Kuppler and Kotowska, 2021). The modulation of CO2 fertilization effects on plant gas exchange and water use efficiency under drought conditions further complicates the carbon-water cycle in terrestrial ecosystems, potentially altering ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water regulation (Li et al., 2021). Water deficit reduced plant growth over a season or permanently, local species reduction or extinction, freshwater ecosystems may change flow regimes (Sadiqi et al., 2022). These changes underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding that drought how to impacts ecosystem functions to develop effective conservation and management strategies. 5.3 Niche distribution and succession of drought-adapted plants Drought conditions drive the niche distribution and succession of drought-adapted plants. Species with inherent drought tolerance mechanisms, such as increased root biomass allocation and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, are more likely to thrive and dominate in water-scarce environments (Nosalewicz et al., 2018; Luo et al., 2022). For example, other important morphophysiological strategies such as increased root growth, increased vascular bundles and density of Lippia grata improved the plant's ability to adapt to and survive in drought-prone areas under water deficit conditions (Palhares Neto et al., 2020). In addition, the different transcriptomic profiling of Pinus pinaster revealed that drought-tolerant genotypes exhibit pre-adapted stress-related gene expression, allowing individuals to better cope with water deficit (De María et al., 2020). These adaptive traits facilitate the establishment and succession of drought-tolerant species, leading to a shift in niche distribution and community dynamics over time. 6 Applications of Multi-omics in Water Deficit Research 6.1 Advances in genomics and transcriptomics Genomics and transcriptomics have significantly advanced our understanding of plant responses to water deficit. For instance, a study on durum wheat utilized next-generation sequencing to provide a comprehensive description of the small RNAome, mRNA transcriptome, and degradome under water-deficit conditions. This study identified differentially expressed miRNAs and genes linked to processes such as hormone homeostasis, photosynthesis, and signaling, revealing key miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs that play significant roles in stress adaptation (Liu et al., 2020) (Figure 2). Similarly, research on maize seedlings under water deficit stress highlighted the incongruence between protein and transcript levels, suggesting complex gene expression mechanisms in response to drought (Xin et al., 2018). These advance findings underscore the importance of integrating genomic and transcriptomic data to unravel the intricate regulatory networks involved in drought tolerance. 6.2 Latest discoveries in metabolomics and proteomics Metabolomics and proteomics profiles were integrated to provide a systematic insight about the biochemical and physiological changes in plants under water deficit conditions. A study on proteomic analysis maize seedlings revealed that 104 proteins were differentially accumulated under water stress, with significant roles in photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, stress defense, energy production, and protein metabolism (Xin et al., 2018). Another study on eastern cottonwood identified over 108 000 peptide sequences, providing a comprehensive view of the proteome changes in response to cyclic and prolonged water deficit, and highlighting the RD26 TF as a key drought marker (Abraham et al., 2018). Metabolomic studies have also shown that plants
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