Metabolic Composition and Quality Traits of <i>Polygonatum cyrtonema</i> Hua from Different Germplasms and Age Sections Based on Widely Targeted Metabolomics Analysis

<i>Polygonatum</i> rhizomes are rich in various compounds with many biological activities and are widely used in functional foods and pharmaceutical products. In order to screen for superior <i>Polygonatum cyrtonema</i> Hua (<i>P. cyrtonema</i>) germplasm and also...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qingshuang Wang, Jingjie Ban, Roudi Cai, Xueying Zhang, Chunwang Lai, Yan Chen, Xiaoli Li, Cuirong Chen, Yukun Chen, Zihao Zhang, Zhongxiong Lai, Yuling Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/7/6077
Description
Summary:<i>Polygonatum</i> rhizomes are rich in various compounds with many biological activities and are widely used in functional foods and pharmaceutical products. In order to screen for superior <i>Polygonatum cyrtonema</i> Hua (<i>P. cyrtonema</i>) germplasm and also to elucidate the nutritional and medicinal values of rhizomes, the metabolic composition and quality traits of rhizomes from different germplasms and age sections of <i>P. cyrtonema</i> were analysed by widely targeted metabolomics, and the molecular mechanism of triacylglycerol synthesis was explored. The results showed that the different germplasms and age sections of <i>P. cyrtonema</i> were rich in different nutritional and medicinal components. Of these, the broad-leaved green stem (GK) germplasm is rich in polysaccharides, alkaloids, and lipids; the pointed-leaved green stem (JL) germplasm is rich in flavonoids, steroids, and amino acids, while the pointed-leaved purple stem (JZ) germplasm contains more phenolic acids. The one-year (AT) age section is rich in polysaccharides, steroids, organic acids, and lipids; the three years (CT) age section contains more flavonoids, alkaloids, and amino acid metabolites. Lipids were significantly enriched in the broad-leaved green stem germplasm and the one-year age section. Interestingly, the highest accumulation of triacylglycerols, an important component of lipids, was also found in the GK germplasm and the AT age section. Nineteen, 14, and 13 members of the <i>glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase</i> (<i>GPAT</i>), <i>lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase</i> (<i>LPAT</i>), and <i>diacylglycerol acyltransferase</i> (<i>DGAT</i>) gene families, respectively, involved in triacylglycerol synthesis were also identified. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results further suggested that the differentially expressed <i>PcDGAT1</i>, <i>PcDGAT2.4</i>, <i>PcGPAT9.1</i>, <i>PcLPAT2.9</i>, and <i>PcLPAT4.3</i> genes may play important roles in triacylglycerol synthesis in <i>P. cyrtonema</i>. Therefore, this study provides a new theoretical reference for product development and the breeding of new varieties of <i>Polygonatum</i> species.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067