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Naik B, Kumar V, Rizwanuddin S, Mishra S, Kumar V, Saris PEJ, Khanduri N, Kumar A, Pandey P, Gupta AK, Khan JM, Rustagi S. Biofortification as a solution for addressing nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30595. [PMID: 38726166 PMCID: PMC11079288 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Malnutrition, defined as both undernutrition and overnutrition, is a major global health concern affecting millions of people. One possible way to address nutrient deficiency and combat malnutrition is through biofortification. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to explore the current state of biofortification research, including techniques, applications, effectiveness and challenges. Biofortification is a promising strategy for enhancing the nutritional condition of at-risk populations. Biofortified varieties of basic crops, including rice, wheat, maize and beans, with elevated amounts of vital micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C, have been successfully developed using conventional and advanced technologies. Additionally, the ability to specifically modify crop genomes to improve their nutritional profiles has been made possible by recent developments in genetic engineering, such as CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The health conditions of people have been shown to improve and nutrient deficiencies were reduced when biofortified crops were grown. Particularly in environments with limited resources, biofortification showed considerable promise as a long-term and economical solution to nutrient shortages and malnutrition. To fully exploit the potential of biofortified crops to enhance public health and global nutrition, issues such as consumer acceptance, regulatory permitting and production and distribution scaling up need to be resolved. Collaboration among governments, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the private sector is essential to overcome these challenges and promote the widespread adoption of biofortification as a key part of global food security and nutrition strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindu Naik
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Graphic Era (Deemed to Be) University, Bell Road, Clement Town, Dehradun, 248002, Uttarakhand, India
- School of Agriculture, Graphic Hill University, Clement Town, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Swami Rama Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 248016, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sheikh Rizwanuddin
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Graphic Era (Deemed to Be) University, Bell Road, Clement Town, Dehradun, 248002, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sadhna Mishra
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, GLA University, Mathura, India
| | - Vivek Kumar
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Swami Rama Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 248016, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Per Erik Joakim Saris
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, 00100, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Naresh Khanduri
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Swami Rama Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 248016, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Akhilesh Kumar
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Swami Rama Nagar, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 248016, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Piyush Pandey
- Soil and Environment Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Assam University, Silchur, 788011, Assam, India
| | - Arun Kumar Gupta
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Graphic Era (Deemed to Be) University, Bell Road, Clement Town, Dehradun, 248002, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Javed Masood Khan
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarvesh Rustagi
- Department of Food Technology, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, Uttarakhand, India
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Quiñones CO, Gesto-Borroto R, Wilson RV, Hernández-Madrigal SV, Lorence A. Alternative pathways leading to ascorbate biosynthesis in plants: lessons from the last 25 years. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:2644-2663. [PMID: 38488689 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
l-Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an antioxidant with important roles in plant stress physiology, growth, and development. AsA also plays an essential role in human health, preventing scurvy. Humans do not synthesize AsA, which needs to be supplied via a diet rich in fresh produce. Research efforts have provided progress in the elucidation of a complex metabolic network with at least four routes leading to AsA formation in plants. In this review, three alternative pathways, namely the d-galacturonate, the l-gulose, and the myo-inositol pathways, are presented with the supporting evidence of their operation in multiple plant species. We critically discuss feeding studies using precursors and their conversion to AsA in plant organs, and research where the expression of key genes encoding enzymes involved in the alternative pathways showed >100% AsA content increase in the transgenics and in many cases accompanied by enhanced tolerance to multiple stresses. We propose that the alternative pathways are vital in AsA production in response to stressful conditions and to compensate in cases where the flux through the d-mannose/l-galactose pathway is reduced. The genes and enzymes that have been characterized so far in these alternative pathways represent important tools that are being used to develop more climate-tolerant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherryl O Quiñones
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, PO Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Reinier Gesto-Borroto
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, PO Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Rachael V Wilson
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, PO Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Sara V Hernández-Madrigal
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, PO Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
| | - Argelia Lorence
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, PO Box 639, State University, AR 72467, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Arkansas State University, PO Box 419, State University, AR 72467, USA
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Koukounaras A, Mellidou I, Patelou E, Kostas S, Shukla V, Engineer C, Papaefthimiou D, Amari F, Chatzopoulos D, Mattoo AK, Kanellis AK. Over-expression of GGP1 and GPP genes enhances ascorbate content and nutritional quality of tomato. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2022; 193:124-138. [PMID: 36356544 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
L-Ascorbic acid (AsA), a strong antioxidant, serves as an enzyme cofactor and redox status marker, modulating a plethora of biological processes. As tomato commercial varieties and hybrids possess relatively low amounts of AsA, the improvement of fruit AsA represents a strategic goal for enhanced human health. Previously, we have suggested that GDP-L-Galactose phosphorylase (GGP) and L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase (GPP) can serve as possible targets for AsA manipulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) fruit. To this end, we produced and evaluated T3 transgenic tomato plants carrying these two genes under the control of CaMV-35S and two fruit specific promoters, PPC2 and PG-GGPI. The transgenic lines had elevated levels of AsA, with the PG-GGP1 line containing 3-fold more AsA than WT, without affecting fruit characteristics. Following RNA-Seq analysis, 164 and 13 DEGs were up- or down-regulated, respectively, between PG-GGP1 and WT pink fruits. PG-GGP1 fruit had a distinct number of up-regulated transcripts associated with cell wall modification, ethylene biosynthesis and signaling, pollen fertility and carotenoid metabolism. The elevated AsA accumulation resulted in the up regulation of AsA associated transcripts and alternative biosynthetic pathways suggesting that the entire metabolic pathway was influenced, probably via master regulation. We show here that AsA-fortification of tomato ripe fruit via GGP1 overexpression under the action of a fruit specific promoter PG affects fruit development and ripening, reduces ethylene production, and increased the levels of sugars, and carotenoids, supporting a robust database to further explore the role of AsA induced genes for agronomically important traits, breeding programs and precision gene editing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Koukounaras
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, HAO ELGO-Demeter, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efstathia Patelou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece; Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vijaya Shukla
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Cawas Engineer
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; University of California San Diego, Division of Biological Sciences - Cell and Developmental Biology, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biological Sciences and Applications, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Foued Amari
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece; Wexner Medical Center/GEMMC, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 970 BRT, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Dimitris Chatzopoulos
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Autar K Mattoo
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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FaAKR23 Modulates Ascorbic Acid and Anthocyanin Accumulation in Strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa) Fruits. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11091828. [PMID: 36139903 PMCID: PMC9495909 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11091828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruits are rich in ascorbic acid (AsA) and anthocyanin, which are essential antioxidants for human health. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of these antioxidant accumulation, especially AsA accumulation in strawberry fruits, remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified FaAKR23 was a regulator of AsA and anthocyanin accumulation. We transiently expressed FaAKR23 in strawberry fruits and conducted metabolic and molecular analyses to explore the role of FaAKR23 in AsA and anthocyanin accumulation. Transient silencing of FaAKR23 (FaAKR23-RNAi) in strawberry fruits significantly decreased the AsA and anthocyanin contents compared with control (empty vector-RNAi, EV-RNAi). Correspondingly, expression of some structural genes and regulatory factors involved in these two antioxidants’ accumulation was dramatically repressed. In addition, transcriptome analysis of EV-RNAi and FaAKR23-RNAi fruits suggested that FaAKR23 was also involved in starch and sucrose metabolism as well as plant–pathogen interaction. Overall, these results not only provide the coordinated regulatory function of FaAKR23 on AsA and anthocyanin accumulation but also offer a promising candidate gene for strawberry breeding with high antioxidants.
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Kim HM, Park SH, Park SY, Ma SH, Do JH, Kim AY, Jeon MJ, Shim JS, Joung YH. Identification of essential element determining fruit-specific transcriptional activity in the tomato HISTIDINE DECARBOXYLASE A gene promoter. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:1721-1731. [PMID: 35739429 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-022-02886-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In SlHDC-A promoter, SlHDC-A core-ES is an essential region for fruit-specific expression and interacts with GATA, HSF and AP1. Triplication of essential region was proposed as a minimal fruit-specific promoter. In plant biotechnology, fruit-specific promoter is an important tool for the improvement and utilization of tomato fruit. To expand our understanding on fruit-specific expression, it is necessary to determine the promoter region involved in fruit-specific transcriptional activity and transcriptional regulations of the promoter. In previous study, we isolated a fruit-specific SlHDC-A core promoter specifically expressed during tomato ripening stages. In this study, we identified SlHDC-A promoter region (SlHDC-A core-ES) that is essential for fruit-specific expression of the SlHDC-A. To understand the molecular mechanisms of fruit-specific expression of the SlHDC-A promoter, we first identified the putative transcription factor binding elements in the SlHDC-A core promoter region and corresponding putative transcription factors which are highly expressed during fruit maturation. Yeast one hybrid analysis confirmed that GATA, HSF, and AP1 interact with the SlHDC-A core-ES promoter region. Further transactivation analysis revealed that expression of the three transcription factors significantly activated expression of a reporter gene driven by SlHDC-A core-ES promoter. These results suggest that GATA, HSF, and AP1 are involved in the fruit-specific expression of SlHDC-A promoter. Furthermore, the synthetic promoter composed of three tandem repeats of SlHDC-A core-ES showed relatively higher activity than the constitutive 35S promoter in the transgenic tomato fruits at the orange stage. Taken together, we propose a new synthetic promoter that is specifically expressed during fruit ripening stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Min Kim
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hee Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Young Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Ma
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hui Do
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Ah Young Kim
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Jin Jeon
- Microorganism Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Sung Shim
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Young Hee Joung
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.
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Mellidou I, Koukounaras A, Kostas S, Patelou E, Kanellis AK. Regulation of Vitamin C Accumulation for Improved Tomato Fruit Quality and Alleviation of Abiotic Stress. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050694. [PMID: 34066421 PMCID: PMC8148108 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an essential multifaceted phytonutrient for both the human diet and plant growth. Optimum levels of AsA accumulation combined with balanced redox homeostasis are required for normal plant development and defense response to adverse environmental stimuli. Notwithstanding its moderate AsA levels, tomatoes constitute a good source of vitamin C in the human diet. Therefore, the enhancement of AsA levels in tomato fruit attracts considerable attention, not only to improve its nutritional value but also to stimulate stress tolerance. Genetic regulation of AsA concentrations in plants can be achieved through the fine-tuning of biosynthetic, recycling, and transport mechanisms; it is also linked to changes in the whole fruit metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests that tomato synthesizes AsA mainly through the l-galactose pathway, but alternative pathways through d-galacturonate or myo-inositol, or seemingly unrelated transcription and regulatory factors, can be also relevant in certain developmental stages or in response to abiotic factors. Considering the recent advances in our understanding of AsA regulation in model and other non-model species, this review attempts to link the current consensus with novel technologies to provide a comprehensive strategy for AsA enhancement in tomatoes, without any detrimental effect on plant growth or fruit development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hao Elgo-Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Correspondence: (I.M.); (A.K.K.)
| | - Athanasios Koukounaras
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (A.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Efstathia Patelou
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Correspondence: (I.M.); (A.K.K.)
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Liao G, Chen L, He Y, Li X, Lv Z, Yi S, Zhong M, Huang C, Jia D, Qu X, Xu X. Three metabolic pathways are responsible for the accumulation and maintenance of high AsA content in kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha). BMC Genomics 2021; 22:13. [PMID: 33407094 PMCID: PMC7788711 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07311-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Actinidia eriantha is a precious material to study the metabolism and regulation of ascorbic acid (AsA) because of its high AsA content. Although the pathway of AsA biosynthesis in kiwifruit has been identified, the mechanism of AsA metabolism and regulation is still unclear. The purpose of this experiment is to reveal the AsA metabolic characteristics of A. eriantha 'Ganmi 6' from the molecular level, and lay a theoretical foundation for the research on the genetic improvement of kiwifruit quality. RESULTS We found that AsA reached the accumulation peak at S7 (110 DAF) during the process of fruit growth and development. The activity of GalDH, GalLDH, MDHAR and DHAR in fruit was similar to AsA accumulation trend, and both of them were significantly positively correlated with AsA content. It was speculated that GalDH and GalLDH were key enzymes in AsA biosynthesis, while MDHAR and DHAR were key enzymes in AsA regeneration cycle, which together regulated AsA accumulation in fruit. Also, we identified 98,656 unigenes with an average length of 932 bp from the transcriptome libraries using RNA-seq technology after data assembly. There were 50,184 (50.87%) unigenes annotations in four databases. Two thousand nine hundred forty-nine unigenes were enriched into the biosynthesis pathway of secondary metabolites, among which 133 unigenes involved in the AsA and aldehyde metabolism pathways, and 23 candidate genes related to AsA biosynthesis, cycling and degradation were screened out. CONCLUSIONS Considering gene expression levels and changes of physiological traits and related enzyme activity, we concluded that the accumulation of AsA depends mainly on the L-galactose pathway, and the D-galacturonic acid pathway and AsA recycling pathway as the secondary pathways, which co-maintain the high AsA content in fruit of A. eriantha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanglian Liao
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China.,College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Lu Chen
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China.,Jinggangshan Institute of Biotechnology, Jinggangshan Branch of Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Ji'an, Jiangxi, 343,016, PR China
| | - Yanqun He
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Xishi Li
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Zhengxin Lv
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Shuyao Yi
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Min Zhong
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Chunhui Huang
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Dongfeng Jia
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Xueyan Qu
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China
| | - Xiaobiao Xu
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China. .,College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Kiwifruit institute of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, PR China.
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Steelheart C, Alegre ML, Baldet P, Rothan C, Bres C, Just D, Okabe Y, Ezura H, Ganganelli I, Gergoff Grozeff GE, Bartoli CG. The effect of low ascorbic acid content on tomato fruit ripening. PLANTA 2020; 252:36. [PMID: 32767124 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-020-03440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The oxidant/antioxidant balance affects the ripening time of tomato fruit. Ripening of tomato fruit is associated with several modifications such as loss of cell wall firmness and transformation of chloroplasts to chromoplasts. Besides a peak in H2O2, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are observed at the transition stage. However, the role of different components of oxidative stress metabolism in fruit ripening has been scarcely addressed. Two GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (GGP) Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Micro-Tom mutants which have fruit with low ascorbic acid content (30% of wild type) were used in this work to unravel the participation of ascorbic acid and H2O2 in fruit maturation. Both GGP mutants show delayed fruit maturation with no peak of H2O2; treatment with ascorbic acid increases its own concentration and accelerates ripening only in mutants to become like wild type plants. Unexpectedly, the treatment with ascorbic acid increases H2O2 synthesis in both mutants resembling what is observed in wild type fruit. Exogenous supplementation with H2O2 decreases its own synthesis delaying fruit maturation in plants with low ascorbic acid content. The site of ROS production is localized in the chloroplasts of fruit of all genotypes as determined by confocal microscopy analysis. The results presented here demonstrate that both ascorbic acid and H2O2 actively participate in tomato fruit ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Steelheart
- INFIVE, Facultades de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales y Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CCT CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Matías Leonel Alegre
- INFIVE, Facultades de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales y Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CCT CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Pierre Baldet
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE), Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Christophe Rothan
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE), Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Cecile Bres
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE), Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Daniel Just
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE), Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Yoshihiro Okabe
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
- Tsukuba Plant Innovation Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ezura
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
- Tsukuba Plant Innovation Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Inti Ganganelli
- INFIVE, Facultades de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales y Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CCT CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Esteban Gergoff Grozeff
- INFIVE, Facultades de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales y Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CCT CONICET, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Carlos Guillermo Bartoli
- INFIVE, Facultades de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales y Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CCT CONICET, La Plata, Argentina.
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9
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Labadie M, Vallin G, Petit A, Ring L, Hoffmann T, Gaston A, Potier A, Schwab W, Rothan C, Denoyes B. Metabolite Quantitative Trait Loci for Flavonoids Provide New Insights into the Genetic Architecture of Strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa) Fruit Quality. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:6927-6939. [PMID: 32469530 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids are products from specialized metabolism that contribute to fruit sensorial (color) and nutritional (antioxidant properties) quality. Here, using a pseudo full-sibling F1 progeny previously studied for fruit sensorial quality of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), we explored over two successive years the genetic architecture of flavonoid-related traits using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (13 compounds including anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols) and colorimetric assays (anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolics, and total antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity)). Network correlation analysis highlighted the high connectivity of flavonoid compounds within each chemical class and low correlation with colorimetric traits except for anthocyanins. Mapping onto the female and male linkage maps of 152 flavonoid metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) and of 26 colorimetric QTLs indicated colocalization on few linkage groups of major flavonoid- and taste-related QTLs previously uncovered. These results pave the way for the discovery of genetic variations underlying flavonoid mQTLs and for marker-assisted selection of strawberry varieties with improved sensorial and nutritional quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Labadie
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, UMR BFP, Villenave d'Ornon F-33140, France
| | - Guillaume Vallin
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, UMR BFP, Villenave d'Ornon F-33140, France
| | - Aurélie Petit
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, UMR BFP, Villenave d'Ornon F-33140, France
- INVENIO, MIN de Brienne, 110 quai de Paludate, Bordeaux 33800, France
| | - Ludwig Ring
- Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technical University Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoffmann
- Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technical University Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Amèlia Gaston
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, UMR BFP, Villenave d'Ornon F-33140, France
| | - Aline Potier
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, UMR BFP, Villenave d'Ornon F-33140, France
| | - Wilfried Schwab
- Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technical University Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, Freising 85354, Germany
| | | | - Béatrice Denoyes
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, UMR BFP, Villenave d'Ornon F-33140, France
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10
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Broad RC, Bonneau JP, Hellens RP, Johnson AA. Manipulation of Ascorbate Biosynthetic, Recycling, and Regulatory Pathways for Improved Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1790. [PMID: 32150968 PMCID: PMC7084844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, are major limiting factors in global crop productivity and are predicted to be exacerbated by climate change. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common consequence of many abiotic stresses. Ascorbate, also known as vitamin C, is the most abundant water-soluble antioxidant in plant cells and can combat oxidative stress directly as a ROS scavenger, or through the ascorbate-glutathione cycle-a major antioxidant system in plant cells. Engineering crops with enhanced ascorbate concentrations therefore has the potential to promote broad abiotic stress tolerance. Three distinct strategies have been utilized to increase ascorbate concentrations in plants: (i) increased biosynthesis, (ii) enhanced recycling, or (iii) modulating regulatory factors. Here, we review the genetic pathways underlying ascorbate biosynthesis, recycling, and regulation in plants, including a summary of all metabolic engineering strategies utilized to date to increase ascorbate concentrations in model and crop species. We then highlight transgene-free strategies utilizing genome editing tools to increase ascorbate concentrations in crops, such as editing the highly conserved upstream open reading frame that controls translation of the GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan C. Broad
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Julien P. Bonneau
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Roger P. Hellens
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
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11
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Vitamin C in Plants: From Functions to Biofortification. Antioxidants (Basel) 2019; 8:antiox8110519. [PMID: 31671820 PMCID: PMC6912510 DOI: 10.3390/antiox8110519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) is an excellent free radical scavenger, not only for its capability to donate reducing equivalents but also for the relative stability of the derived monodehydroascorbate radical. However, vitamin C is not only an antioxidant, since it is also a cofactor for numerous enzymes involved in plant and human metabolism. In humans, vitamin C takes part in various physiological processes, such as iron absorption, collagen synthesis, immune stimulation, and epigenetic regulation. Due to the functional loss of the gene coding for l-gulonolactone oxidase, humans cannot synthesize vitamin C; thus, they principally utilize plant-based foods for their needs. For this reason, increasing the vitamin C content of crops could have helpful effects on human health. To achieve this objective, exhaustive knowledge of the metabolism and functions of vitamin C in plants is needed. In this review, the multiple roles of vitamin C in plant physiology as well as the regulation of its content, through biosynthetic or recycling pathways, are analyzed. Finally, attention is paid to the strategies that have been used to increase the content of vitamin C in crops, emphasizing not only the improvement of nutritional value of the crops but also the acquisition of plant stress resistance.
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12
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Fenech M, Amaya I, Valpuesta V, Botella MA. Vitamin C Content in Fruits: Biosynthesis and Regulation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 9:2006. [PMID: 30733729 PMCID: PMC6353827 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.02006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Throughout evolution, a number of animals including humans have lost the ability to synthesize ascorbic acid (ascorbate, vitamin C), an essential molecule in the physiology of animals and plants. In addition to its main role as an antioxidant and cofactor in redox reactions, recent reports have shown an important role of ascorbate in the activation of epigenetic mechanisms controlling cell differentiation, dysregulation of which can lead to the development of certain types of cancer. Although fruits and vegetables constitute the main source of ascorbate in the human diet, rising its content has not been a major breeding goal, despite the large inter- and intraspecific variation in ascorbate content in fruit crops. Nowadays, there is an increasing interest to boost ascorbate content, not only to improve fruit quality but also to generate crops with elevated stress tolerance. Several attempts to increase ascorbate in fruits have achieved fairly good results but, in some cases, detrimental effects in fruit development also occur, likely due to the interaction between the biosynthesis of ascorbate and components of the cell wall. Plants synthesize ascorbate de novo mainly through the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway, the dominant pathway in photosynthetic tissues. Two intermediates of the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway, GDP-D-mannose and GDP-L-galactose, are also precursors of the non-cellulosic components of the plant cell wall. Therefore, a better understanding of ascorbate biosynthesis and regulation is essential for generation of improved fruits without developmental side effects. This is likely to involve a yet unknown tight regulation enabling plant growth and development, without impairing the cell redox state modulated by ascorbate pool. In certain fruits and developmental conditions, an alternative pathway from D-galacturonate might be also relevant. We here review the regulation of ascorbate synthesis, its close connection with the cell wall, as well as different strategies to increase its content in plants, with a special focus on fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Fenech
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea (IHSM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Iraida Amaya
- Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera, Area de Genómica y Biotecnología, Centro de Málaga, Spain
| | - Victoriano Valpuesta
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea (IHSM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Botella
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea (IHSM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
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13
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Sacco A, Raiola A, Calafiore R, Barone A, Rigano MM. New insights in the control of antioxidants accumulation in tomato by transcriptomic analyses of genotypes exhibiting contrasting levels of fruit metabolites. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:43. [PMID: 30646856 PMCID: PMC6332538 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5428-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tomato is an economically important crop with fruits that are a significant source of bioactive compounds such as ascorbic acid and phenolics. Nowadays, the majority of the enzymes of the biosynthetic pathways and of the structural genes controlling the production and the accumulation of antioxidants in plants are known; however, the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these genes are yet to be investigated. Here, we analyzed the transcriptomic changes occurring during ripening in the fruits of two tomato cultivars (E1 and E115), characterized by a different accumulation of antioxidants, in order to identify candidate genes potentially involved in the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and phenylpropanoids. Results RNA sequencing analyses allowed identifying several structural and regulator genes putatively involved in ascorbate and phenylpropanoids biosynthesis in tomato fruits. Furthermore, transcription factors that may control antioxidants biosynthesis were identified through a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Results obtained by RNA-seq and WGCNA analyses were further confirmed by RT-qPCR carried out at different ripening stages on ten cultivated tomato genotypes that accumulate different amount of bioactive compounds in the fruit. These analyses allowed us to identify one pectin methylesterase, which may affect the release of pectin-derived D-Galacturonic acid as metabolic precursor of ascorbate biosynthesis. Results reported in the present work allowed also identifying one L-ascorbate oxidase, which may favor the accumulation of reduced ascorbate in tomato fruits. Finally, the pivotal role of the enzymes chalcone synthases (CHS) in controlling the accumulation of phenolic compounds in cultivated tomato genotypes and the transcriptional control of the CHS genes exerted by Myb12 were confirmed. Conclusions By using transcriptomic analyses, candidate genes encoding transcription factors and structural genes were identified that may be involved in the accumulation of ascorbic acid and phenylpropanoids in tomato fruits of cultivated genotypes. These analyses provided novel insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling antioxidants accumulation in ripening tomato fruits. The structural genes and regulators here identified could also be used as efficient genetic markers for selecting high antioxidants tomato cultivars. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5428-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Sacco
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Assunta Raiola
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Calafiore
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Amalia Barone
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Manuela Rigano
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Naples, Italy
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14
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Rigano MM, Lionetti V, Raiola A, Bellincampi D, Barone A. Pectic enzymes as potential enhancers of ascorbic acid production through the D-galacturonate pathway in Solanaceae. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 266:55-63. [PMID: 29241567 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The increase of L-Ascorbic Acid (AsA) content in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a common goal in breeding programs due to its beneficial effect on human health. To shed light into the regulation of fruit AsA content, we exploited a Solanum pennellii introgression line (IL12-4-SL) harbouring one quantitative trait locus that increases the content of total AsA in the fruit. Biochemical and transcriptomic analyses were carried out in fruits of IL12-4-SL in comparison with the cultivated line M82 at different stages of ripening. AsA content was studied in relation with pectin methylesterase (PME) activity and the degree of pectin methylesterification (DME). Our results indicated that the increase of AsA content in IL12-4-SL fruits was related with pectin de-methylesterification/degradation. Specific PME, polygalacturonase (PG) and UDP-D-glucuronic-acid-4-epimerase (UGlcAE) isoforms were proposed as components of the D-galacturonate pathway leading to AsA biosynthesis. The relationship between AsA content and PME activity was also exploited in PMEI tobacco plants expressing a specific PME inhibitor (PMEI). Here we report that tobacco PMEI plants, altered in PME activity and degree of pectin methylesterification, showed a reduction in low methylesterified pectic domains and exhibited a reduced AsA content. Overall, our results provide novel biochemical and genetic traits for increasing antioxidant content by marker-assisted selection in the Solanaceae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Manuela Rigano
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Lionetti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Assunta Raiola
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Daniela Bellincampi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Amalia Barone
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy.
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15
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Macknight RC, Laing WA, Bulley SM, Broad RC, Johnson AA, Hellens RP. Increasing ascorbate levels in crops to enhance human nutrition and plant abiotic stress tolerance. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 44:153-160. [PMID: 28231513 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ascorbate (or vitamin C) is an essential human micronutrient predominantly obtained from plants. In addition to preventing scurvy, it is now known to have broader roles in human health, for example as a cofactor for enzymes involved in epigenetic programming and as regulator of cellular iron uptake. Furthermore, ascorbate is the major antioxidant in plants and underpins many environmentally induced abiotic stress responses. Biotechnological approaches to enhance the ascorbate content of crops therefore have potential to improve both human health and abiotic stress tolerance of crops. Identifying the genetic basis of ascorbate variation between plant varieties and discovering how some 'super fruits' accumulate extremely high levels of ascorbate should reveal new ways to more effectively manipulate the production of ascorbate in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard C Macknight
- University of Otago, Department of Biochemistry, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Institute for Future Environments, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.
| | - William A Laing
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Food Industry Science Centre, Bachelor Road, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand
| | - Sean M Bulley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, 412 No 1 Road, RD 2, Te Puke 3182, New Zealand
| | - Ronan C Broad
- The University of Melbourne, School of BioSciences, Parkville, Melbourne, 3010 VIC, Australia
| | - Alexander At Johnson
- The University of Melbourne, School of BioSciences, Parkville, Melbourne, 3010 VIC, Australia
| | - Roger P Hellens
- Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Institute for Future Environments, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
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16
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Ruggieri V, Bostan H, Barone A, Frusciante L, Chiusano ML. Integrated bioinformatics to decipher the ascorbic acid metabolic network in tomato. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 91:397-412. [PMID: 27007138 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-016-0469-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbic acid is involved in a plethora of reactions in both plant and animal metabolism. It plays an essential role neutralizing free radicals and acting as enzyme co-factor in several reaction. Since humans are ascorbate auxotrophs, enhancing the nutritional quality of a widely consumed vegetable like tomato is a desirable goal. Although the main reactions of the ascorbate biosynthesis, recycling and translocation pathways have been characterized, the assignment of tomato genes to each enzymatic step of the entire network has never been reported to date. By integrating bioinformatics approaches, omics resources and transcriptome collections today available for tomato, this study provides an overview on the architecture of the ascorbate pathway. In particular, 237 tomato loci were associated with the different enzymatic steps of the network, establishing the first comprehensive reference collection of candidate genes based on the recently released tomato gene annotation. The co-expression analyses performed by using RNA-Seq data supported the functional investigation of main expression patterns for the candidate genes and highlighted a coordinated spatial-temporal regulation of genes of the different pathways across tissues and developmental stages. Taken together these results provide evidence of a complex interplaying mechanism and highlight the pivotal role of functional related genes. The definition of genes contributing to alternative pathways and their expression profiles corroborates previous hypothesis on mechanisms of accumulation of ascorbate in the later stages of fruit ripening. Results and evidences here provided may facilitate the development of novel strategies for biofortification of tomato fruit with Vitamin C and offer an example framework for similar studies concerning other metabolic pathways and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentino Ruggieri
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Hamed Bostan
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Amalia Barone
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Luigi Frusciante
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Chiusano
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy.
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18
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Kaushik P, Andújar I, Vilanova S, Plazas M, Gramazio P, Herraiz FJ, Brar NS, Prohens J. Breeding Vegetables with Increased Content in Bioactive Phenolic Acids. Molecules 2015; 20:18464-81. [PMID: 26473812 PMCID: PMC6332125 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201018464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Vegetables represent a major source of phenolic acids, powerful antioxidants characterized by an organic carboxylic acid function and which present multiple properties beneficial for human health. In consequence, developing new varieties with enhanced content in phenolic acids is an increasingly important breeding objective. Major phenolic acids present in vegetables are derivatives of cinnamic acid and to a lesser extent of benzoic acid. A large diversity in phenolic acids content has been found among cultivars and wild relatives of many vegetable crops. Identification of sources of variation for phenolic acids content can be accomplished by screening germplasm collections, but also through morphological characteristics and origin, as well as by evaluating mutations in key genes. Gene action estimates together with relatively high values for heritability indicate that selection for enhanced phenolic acids content will be efficient. Modern genomics and biotechnological strategies, such as QTL detection, candidate genes approaches and genetic transformation, are powerful tools for identification of genomic regions and genes with a key role in accumulation of phenolic acids in vegetables. However, genetically increasing the content in phenolic acids may also affect other traits important for the success of a variety. We anticipate that the combination of conventional and modern strategies will facilitate the development of a new generation of vegetable varieties with enhanced content in phenolic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kaushik
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
| | - Isabel Andújar
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
| | - Santiago Vilanova
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
| | - Mariola Plazas
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
| | - Pietro Gramazio
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
| | - Francisco Javier Herraiz
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
| | - Navjot Singh Brar
- Department of Vegetable Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125001, India.
| | - Jaime Prohens
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, Valencia 46022, Spain.
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