Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria

Flavonoids are phytochemicals present in medicinal plants and contribute to human health. Coreopsis tinctoria, a species rich in flavonoids, has long been used in traditional medicine and as a food resource. N (nitrogen) fertilization can reduce flavonoid accumulation in C. tinctoria. However, there...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhiyuan Li, Hong Jiang, Huizhuan Yan, Xiumei Jiang, Yan Ma, Yong Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2021-09-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/12152.pdf
_version_ 1797418490254065664
author Zhiyuan Li
Hong Jiang
Huizhuan Yan
Xiumei Jiang
Yan Ma
Yong Qin
author_facet Zhiyuan Li
Hong Jiang
Huizhuan Yan
Xiumei Jiang
Yan Ma
Yong Qin
author_sort Zhiyuan Li
collection DOAJ
description Flavonoids are phytochemicals present in medicinal plants and contribute to human health. Coreopsis tinctoria, a species rich in flavonoids, has long been used in traditional medicine and as a food resource. N (nitrogen) fertilization can reduce flavonoid accumulation in C. tinctoria. However, there is limited knowledge regarding N regulatory mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of N availability on flavonoid biosynthesis in C. tinctoria and to investigate the relationship between C (carbon) and N metabolism coupled with flavonoid synthesis under controlled conditions. C. tinctoria seedlings were grown hydroponically under five different N levels (0, 0.625, 1.250, 2.500 and 5.000 mM). The related indexes of C, N and flavonoid metabolism of C. tinctoria under N variation were measured and analysed. N availability (low and moderate N levels) regulates enzyme activities related to C and N metabolism, promotes the accumulation of carbohydrates, reduces N metabolite levels, and enhances the internal C/N balance. The flavonoid content in roots and stalks remained relatively stable, while that in leaves peaked at low or intermediate N levels. Flavonoids are closely related to phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL), and chalcone-thioase (CHS) activity, significantly positively correlated with carbohydrates and negatively correlated with N metabolites. Thus, C and N metabolism can not only control the distribution of C in amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways but also change the distribution in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which also provides meaningful information for maintaining high yields while ensuring the nutritional value of crop plants.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T06:33:25Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d2f784bc4587465e994b7efec5674994
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2167-8359
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T06:33:25Z
publishDate 2021-09-01
publisher PeerJ Inc.
record_format Article
series PeerJ
spelling doaj.art-d2f784bc4587465e994b7efec56749942023-12-03T11:02:33ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-09-019e1215210.7717/peerj.12152Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoriaZhiyuan Li0Hong Jiang1Huizhuan Yan2Xiumei Jiang3Yan Ma4Yong Qin5College of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agriculture University, Urumuqi, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agriculture University, Urumuqi, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agriculture University, Urumuqi, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agriculture University, Urumuqi, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Mechanization, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumuqi, ChinaCollege of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agriculture University, Urumuqi, ChinaFlavonoids are phytochemicals present in medicinal plants and contribute to human health. Coreopsis tinctoria, a species rich in flavonoids, has long been used in traditional medicine and as a food resource. N (nitrogen) fertilization can reduce flavonoid accumulation in C. tinctoria. However, there is limited knowledge regarding N regulatory mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of N availability on flavonoid biosynthesis in C. tinctoria and to investigate the relationship between C (carbon) and N metabolism coupled with flavonoid synthesis under controlled conditions. C. tinctoria seedlings were grown hydroponically under five different N levels (0, 0.625, 1.250, 2.500 and 5.000 mM). The related indexes of C, N and flavonoid metabolism of C. tinctoria under N variation were measured and analysed. N availability (low and moderate N levels) regulates enzyme activities related to C and N metabolism, promotes the accumulation of carbohydrates, reduces N metabolite levels, and enhances the internal C/N balance. The flavonoid content in roots and stalks remained relatively stable, while that in leaves peaked at low or intermediate N levels. Flavonoids are closely related to phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL), and chalcone-thioase (CHS) activity, significantly positively correlated with carbohydrates and negatively correlated with N metabolites. Thus, C and N metabolism can not only control the distribution of C in amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways but also change the distribution in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which also provides meaningful information for maintaining high yields while ensuring the nutritional value of crop plants.https://peerj.com/articles/12152.pdfNitrogenC. tinctoriaCarbon metabolismNitrogen metabolismFlavonoid accumulation
spellingShingle Zhiyuan Li
Hong Jiang
Huizhuan Yan
Xiumei Jiang
Yan Ma
Yong Qin
Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria
PeerJ
Nitrogen
C. tinctoria
Carbon metabolism
Nitrogen metabolism
Flavonoid accumulation
title Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria
title_full Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria
title_fullStr Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria
title_full_unstemmed Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria
title_short Carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of Coreopsis tinctoria
title_sort carbon and nitrogen metabolism under nitrogen variation affects flavonoid accumulation in the leaves of coreopsis tinctoria
topic Nitrogen
C. tinctoria
Carbon metabolism
Nitrogen metabolism
Flavonoid accumulation
url https://peerj.com/articles/12152.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT zhiyuanli carbonandnitrogenmetabolismundernitrogenvariationaffectsflavonoidaccumulationintheleavesofcoreopsistinctoria
AT hongjiang carbonandnitrogenmetabolismundernitrogenvariationaffectsflavonoidaccumulationintheleavesofcoreopsistinctoria
AT huizhuanyan carbonandnitrogenmetabolismundernitrogenvariationaffectsflavonoidaccumulationintheleavesofcoreopsistinctoria
AT xiumeijiang carbonandnitrogenmetabolismundernitrogenvariationaffectsflavonoidaccumulationintheleavesofcoreopsistinctoria
AT yanma carbonandnitrogenmetabolismundernitrogenvariationaffectsflavonoidaccumulationintheleavesofcoreopsistinctoria
AT yongqin carbonandnitrogenmetabolismundernitrogenvariationaffectsflavonoidaccumulationintheleavesofcoreopsistinctoria