Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Key Antioxidant Mechanisms in Dendrobium huoshanense Under Combined Salt and Heat Stress

Combined abiotic stresses often impose greater challenges to plant survival than individual stresses. In this study, we focused on elucidating the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the response of Dendrobium huoshanense to combined salt and heat stress by integrating physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. Our results demonstrated that high temperature plays a dominant role in the combined stress response. Physiological assays showed increased oxidative damage under combined stress, accompanied by significant activation of antioxidant enzyme systems (SOD, POD, CAT). Metabolomic analysis revealed significant enrichment of glutathione metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, with key antioxidants such as glutathione and naringenin chalcone accumulating under combined stress. Transcriptomic data supported these findings, showing differential regulation of stress-related genes, including those involved in reactive oxygen species scavenging and secondary metabolism. These results highlight a coordinated defense strategy in D. huoshanense, involving both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems to maintain redox homeostasis under combined stress. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying combined stress tolerance and lays the foundation for improving stress resilience in medicinal orchids.