Unveiling the impact of nitrogen deficiency on alkaloid synthesis in konjac corms (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume)

作者：Ying Qi, Penghua Gao, Shaowu Yang, Lifang Li, Yanguo Ke, Yongteng Zhao, Feiyan Huang, Lei Yu · 发表于：BMC Plant Biology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1186/s12870-024-05642-z · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Polysaccharides Composition and Applications、Plant Molecular Biology Research、Plant tissue culture and regeneration

BACKGROUND: Konjac corms are known for their alkaloid content, which possesses pharmacological properties. In the primary cultivation areas of konjac, nitrogen deficiency is a common problem that significantly influences alkaloid synthesis. The impact of nitrogen deficiency on the alkaloids in konjac corms remains unclear, further complicated by the transition from mother to daughter corms during their growth cycle. RESULTS: This study examined 21 alkaloids, including eight indole alkaloids, five isoquinoline alkaloids, and eight other types of alkaloids, along with the associated gene expressions throughout the development of Amorphophallus muelleri Blume under varying nitrogen levels. Nitrogen deficiency significantly reduced corm diameter and fresh weight and delayed the transformation process. Under low nitrogen conditions, the content of indole alkaloids and the expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis, such as tryptophan synthase (TRP) and tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), exhibited a substantial increase in daughter corms, with fold changes of 61.99 and 19.31, respectively. Conversely, in the mother corm, TDC expression was markedly reduced, showing only 0.04 times the expression level observed under 10 N treatment. The patterns of isoquinoline alkaloid accumulation in corms subjected to nitrogen deficiency were notably distinct from those observed for indole alkaloids. The accumulation of isoquinoline alkaloids was significantly higher in mother corms, with ex...