Plant Flavonoid Content Modified by Domestication

Abstract

Plant domestication can modify and weaken defensive chemical traits, reducing chemical defenses in plants and consequently their resistance against pests. We characterized and quantified the major defensive flavonols and isoflavonoids present in both wild and cultivated murtilla plants (Ugni molinae Turcz), established in a common garden. We examined their effects on the larvae of Chilesia rudis (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Insect community and diversity indices were also evaluated. We hypothesized that domestication reduces flavonoid contents and modifies C. rudis preference, the insect community, and diversity. Methanolic extracts were obtained from leaves of U. molinae plants and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results showed higher insect numbers (86.48%) and damage index (1.72 ± 0.16) in cultivated plants. Four new first records of insects were found associated with U. molinae. Diversity indices, such as Simpson, Shannon, and Margalef, were higher in cultivated plants than in wild plants. Furthermore, eight isoflavonoids were identified in U. molinae leaves for the first time. The five flavonols showed higher concentrations in wild U. molinae leaves (89.8 µg/g) than in cultivated plants (75.2 µg/g); however, no differences were found in isoflavonoids between wild and cultivated plants. The larvae of C. rudis consumed more leaf material of cultivated plants than wild plants in choice (3.8 vs. 0.8 mm2) and no-choice (7.5 vs. 3.0 mm2) assays. Our study demonstrates that domestication in U. molinae reduces the amount of flavonoids in leaves, increasing the preference of C. rudis and the insect community.

Phytochemicals and Traditional Use of Two Southernmost Chilean Berry Fruits: Murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) and Calafate (Berberis buxifolia Lam.)

“…Results on the flavonol content in murta fruit have been inconsistent. In one study, no significant differences between wild and cultivated murta fruits were found [44,45]. Conversely, in another study by Augusto [40], the total phenolic compounds in the fruits of wild and selected murta (14-4) genotype were 19.4 and 40.3 mg GAE/g in dry weight, respectively.…”

RNA-seq, de novo transcriptome assembly and flavonoid gene analysis in 13 wild and cultivated berry fruit species with high content of phenolics

“…In berries, high antioxidant activity is most often associated with berries from wild species, together with a broad variety of anthocyanins and high total polyphenol contents compared to cultivated varieties. In commercial cultivars, the flavonoid content has often been altered and reduced during domestication with an accompanying increase in susceptibility towards pests/insects [99]. In this study, we investigated a wide range of wild and cultivated berry fruit species representing diverse plant families (Berberidaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Ericaceae, Grossulariaceae, Rosaceae and Myrtaceae) to provide a broad platform for classification of genes and their products and to establish fruit-specific expression patterns to gain new insights into the complex regulation of metabolic pathways during berry fruit development.…”

The wild side of plant microbiomes

“…A recent study on mutants of poplar trees, silenced in the cinnamyl-Co reductase ( CCR ) gene of the monolignol-specific lignin pathways, showed significant effects on the density and composition of culturable rhizosphere and endosphere bacteria, microbiome shifts that were proposed to be mediated, at least in part, by changes in extractable plant phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid [ 27 ]. In this context, it is worth noting that one of the most common domestication syndrome traits is related with the changes in the type and amount of secondary metabolites, such as the loss of specific compounds that are toxic for humans or livestock or the reduction of flavonoid content in the leaves [ 28 – 30 ]. To date, however, very little is known about the qualitative and quantitative differences between root exudation profiles of crop plants and their wild relatives.…”