Metabolite profiling reveals temperature effects on the VOCs and flavonoids of different plant populations

Abstract

Temperature is one of the key factors in limiting the distribution of plants and controlling major metabolic processes. A series of simulated reciprocal transplant experiments were performed to investigate the effect of temperature on plant chemical composition. Polygonum minus of different lowland and highland origin were grown under a controlled environment with different temperature regimes to study the effects on secondary metabolites. We applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify the chemical compounds. A total of 37 volatile organic compounds and 85 flavonoids were detected, with the largest response observed in the compositional changes of aldehydes and terpenes in highland plants under higher temperature treatment. Significantly less anthocyanidin compounds and larger amounts of flavonols were detected under higher temperature treatment. We also studied natural variation in the different plant populations growing under the same environment and identified compounds unique to each population through metabolite fingerprinting. This study shows that the origin of different plant populations influences the effects of temperature on chemical composition.

Proteomics (SWATH-MS) informed by transcriptomics approach of tropical herbPersicaria minorleaves upon methyl jasmonate elicitation

“…Another secondary metabolite biosynthetic protein, enone oxidoreductase is involved in the production of furaneol, an aromatic volatile compound found in fruit such as pineapple and strawberry (Eshghi, Jamali & Rowshan, 2014; Klein et al, 2007). P. minor has been shown to increase both flavonoid and volatile organic compounds upon high temperature treatment (Goh et al, 2016), and this study further implies that MeJA elicitation could also exhibit similar response.…”

“…Several studies have reported antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial and anticancer activities in P. minor extracts (Vikram et al, 2014). Our previous results showed increase in P. minor leaf volatile metabolites under heat stress (Goh et al, 2016) and MeJA elicitation (Rahnamaie-Tajadod et al, 2017). Transcriptome profiling indicated the activation of defense genes involving phenylpropanoid pathway upon MeJA elicitation (Rahnamaie-Tajadod et al, 2017).…”

Mass spectrometry data of metabolomics analysis of Nepenthes pitchers

“…Each sample was crushed and ground until fine powder before lyophilised for 48 h. Extraction from the dried powder was performed according to [5] with slight modifications. Dried powder samples (10 mg) were extracted with 200 µL of methanol:chloroform:water (3:1:1).…”

Plants and the changing environment

“…High temperatures may increase emissions of volatile organic compounds, which react in the lower atmosphere (Goh et al . ), while particulate pollution may interfere directly with plant ability to regulate the balance of water loss and carbon acquisition (Burkhardt & Pariyar ).…”

“…Positive feedbacks between plant responses to stress and physiological responses that may further accelerate climate change are also considered. High temperatures may increase emissions of volatile organic compounds, which react in the lower atmosphere (Goh et al 2016), while particulate pollution may interfere directly with plant ability to regulate the balance of water loss and carbon acquisition (Burkhardt & Pariyar 2016).…”