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Boutoub O, Jadhav S, Zheng X, El Ghadraoui L, Al Babili S, Fernie AR, Figueiredo AC, Miguel MG, Borghi M. Biochemical characterization of Euphorbia resinifera floral cyathia. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 293:154184. [PMID: 38295538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2024.154184] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg is a plant endemic to the Northern and Central regions of Morocco known since the ancient Roman and Greek times for secreting a poisonous latex containing resiniferatoxin. However, E. resinifera pseudo-inflorescences called cyathia are devoid of laticifers and, therefore, do not secrete latex. Instead, they exudate nectar that local honey bees collect and craft into honey. Honey and cyathium water extracts find a broad range of applications in the traditional medicine of Northern Africa as ointments and water decoctions. Moreover, E. resinifera monofloral honey has received the Protected Geographic Indication certification for its outstanding qualities. Given the relevance of E. resinifera cyathia for bee nutrition, honey production, and the health benefit of cyathium-derived products, this study aimed to screen metabolites synthesized and accumulated in its pseudo-inflorescences. Our analyses revealed that E. resinifera cyathia accumulate primary metabolites in considerable abundance, including hexoses, amino acids and vitamins that honey bees may collect from nectar and craft into honey. Cyathia also synthesize volatile organic compounds of the class of benzenoids and terpenes, which are emitted by flowers pollinated by honey bees and bumblebees. Many specialized metabolites, including carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyamines, were also detected, which, while protecting the reproductive organs against abiotic stresses, also confer antioxidant properties to water decoctions. In conclusion, our analyses revealed that E. resinifera cyathia are a great source of antioxidant molecules and a good food source for the local foraging honeybees, revealing the central role of the flowers from this species in mediating interactions with local pollinators and the conferral of medicinal properties to plant extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oumaima Boutoub
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84321-5305, USA; Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal; Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, BP 2202, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah, Fez, 20000, Morocco
| | - Sagar Jadhav
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84321-5305, USA
| | - Xiongjie Zheng
- The Bioactives Lab, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullahuniversity of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lahsen El Ghadraoui
- Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, BP 2202, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah, Fez, 20000, Morocco
| | - Salim Al Babili
- The Bioactives Lab, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullahuniversity of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany
| | - Ana Cristina Figueiredo
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar Lisboa (CESAM Ciências), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Biotecnologia Vegetal (BV), DBV, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Graça Miguel
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal; Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Monica Borghi
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84321-5305, USA.
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Rosado-Souza L, Yokoyama R, Sonnewald U, Fernie AR. Understanding source-sink interactions: Progress in model plants and translational research to crops. MOLECULAR PLANT 2023; 16:96-121. [PMID: 36447435 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture is facing a massive increase in demand per hectare as a result of an ever-expanding population and environmental deterioration. While we have learned much about how environmental conditions and diseases impact crop yield, until recently considerably less was known concerning endogenous factors, including within-plant nutrient allocation. In this review, we discuss studies of source-sink interactions covering both fundamental research in model systems under controlled growth conditions and how the findings are being translated to crop plants in the field. In this respect we detail efforts aimed at improving and/or combining C3, C4, and CAM modes of photosynthesis, altering the chloroplastic electron transport chain, modulating photorespiration, adopting bacterial/algal carbon-concentrating mechanisms, and enhancing nitrogen- and water-use efficiencies. Moreover, we discuss how modulating TCA cycle activities and primary metabolism can result in increased rates of photosynthesis and outline the opportunities that evaluating natural variation in photosynthesis may afford. Although source, transport, and sink functions are all covered in this review, we focus on discussing source functions because the majority of research has been conducted in this field. Nevertheless, considerable recent evidence, alongside the evidence from classical studies, demonstrates that both transport and sink functions are also incredibly important determinants of yield. We thus describe recent evidence supporting this notion and suggest that future strategies for yield improvement should focus on combining improvements in each of these steps to approach yield optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laise Rosado-Souza
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
| | - Ryo Yokoyama
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Uwe Sonnewald
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
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