Multisite evaluation of phenotypic plasticity for specialized metabolites, some involved in carrot quality and disease resistance

Abstract

Renewed consumer demand motivates the nutritional and sensory quality improvement of fruits and vegetables. Specialized metabolites being largely involved in nutritional and sensory quality of carrot, a better knowledge of their phenotypic variability is required. A metabolomic approach was used to evaluate phenotypic plasticity level of carrot commercial varieties, over three years and a wide range of cropping environments spread over several geographical areas in France. Seven groups of metabolites have been quantified by HPLC or GC methods: sugars, carotenoids, terpenes, phenolic compounds, phenylpropanoids and polyacetylenes. A large variation in root metabolic profiles was observed, in relation with environment, variety and variety by environment interaction effects in decreasing order of importance. Our results show a clear diversity structuration based on metabolite content. Polyacetylenes, β-pinene and α-carotene were identified mostly as relatively stable varietal markers, exhibiting static stability. Nevertheless, environment effect was substantial for a large part of carrot metabolic profile and various levels of phenotypic plasticity were observed depending on metabolites and varieties. A strong difference of environmental sensitivity between varieties was observed for several compounds, particularly myristicin, 6MM and D-germacrene, known to be involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stress. This work provides useful information about plasticity in the perspective of carrot breeding and production. A balance between constitutive content and environmental sensitivity for key metabolites should be reached for quality improvement in carrot and other vegetables.

Assessment of Carrot Production System Using Biologically Active Compounds and Metabolomic Fingerprints

“…However, the fragment spectra match those in the PubChem database and in the literature [63,64]. Chevalier et al [65] also reported this compound as a discriminating factor for carrot varieties; however, the authors reported only the molecular formula without further identification. In Cortina, the effect of the seeding density was rather low, but it was much more pronounced in the Afalon, where higher levels of Licoagroside B were detected at the higher seeding density.…”

Recent applications of metabolomics in plant breeding

“…The stability of metabolome between crops grown under different conditions is often argued when the metabolomic data are subjected to statistical analysis. Chevalier et al (2021) evaluated phenotypic plasticity in carrot varieties and concluded that a balance between constitutive content and the environmental sensitivity of key metabolites should be considered for quality improvement in carrot and other vegetables. For the assessments of the unintended effects of genetically modified crops, reports have been published on maize varieties ( Liu et al 2021 ) and tomato rootstock ( Kodama et al 2021 ).…”

Comparative Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses of Differences in Trunk Spiral Grain in Pinus yunnanensis

“…In addition, secondary metabolites can also affect the external manifestations of organisms, such as color [33], taste [34], and aroma [35], which, in turn, affect the reproduction [31] and adaptability [30] of organisms. The production and regulation of secondary metabolites are closely related to the phenotypic plasticity of organisms [36]. In the process of adapting to environmental changes, organisms produce different types of secondary metabolites in response to different stresses and challenges [30]; for instance, there are significant changes in the levels of antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX)) in Pisum sativum seeds under salicylic acid and ultraviolet-B stresses [37].…”