Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase the Phenolic Compounds Concentration in the Bark of the Stem of Libidibia Ferrea in Field Conditions

Abstract

Background: Libidibia ferrea is a species particular to the caatinga presenting medicinal properties for containing bioactive compounds. The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can increase the production of biomolecules in the legume leaves; however, no light has been shed on the role of symbiosis in maximizing metabolites production in the bark of L. ferrea stem.Objective:The aim was to select AMF that are efficient at increasing the production of phenolic compounds with medicinal properties in the bark of the L. ferrea stem.Methods:The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four inoculation treatments (plants pre-inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, with Gigaspora albida, with Acaulospora longula, and non-inoculated plants – control) with six repetitions. Thirteen months after the transplanting, the plants were pruned and the bark of the stem was collected; subsequently, this plant material was dried in a chamber. After the drying process, fractions of the bark of the stem were macerated in methanol. The extracts were further used for analyses of the biomolecules.Results:The flavonoids concentration had an increase of, respectively, 236% and 186% in relation to the control for the treatments with A. longula and C. etunicatum; plants inoculated with A. longula had an increase of 47% in total tannins concentration compared with the non-inoculated control – a benefit that the proanthocyanidins did not present.Conclusion:Applying inoculation with A. longula may be an alternative to increase the production of biomolecules of the secondary metabolism in the bark of the L. ferrea stem in field conditions.

Interactive Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Elevated CO2 on Growth and Functional Food Value of Thymus vulgare

“…For instance, AMF treatments caused an increase in phenolic compounds content of lettuce [ 53 , 66 ], and in the antioxidant capacity of sweet basil [ 67 ]. Moreover, the flavonoids of some wild plants, such as Libidibia ferrea , were found to be accumulated by mycorrhizal association [ 68 ]. Similarly, eCO 2 induced the accumulation of some phenolic compounds in birch [ 69 ], and Zingiber officinale [ 52 ].…”

“…Several scenarios have been proposed to explain the induction of secondary metabolites in response to AMF associations and eCO 2 . It was found that AMF could affect secondary metabolites through improved photosynthesis and mineral content of the host plants, activation of pathways involved in synthesis of secondary metabolites, or higher expression of some genes related to secondary metabolism [ 68 ]. On the other hand, the eCO 2 -induced changes in plant secondary metabolism have been attributed to either excess amount of non-structural carbohydrates, resulting in an increment in carbon-based secondary metabolites [ 9 , 37 , 51 ].…”

Effect of Indigenous and Introduced Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Phytochemical Content of Vegetatively Propagated Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman Provenances

“…Several studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of AMF inoculation on the concentration of secondary metabolites compounds. Flavonoids concentration was shown to have increased in the bark of Libidibia ferrea after being inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Gigaspora albida; similarly, the concentration of total tannins was shown to be higher when inoculated with Acaulospora longula compared to the non-inoculated control plants [28]. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species can also have different effects in the host; for instance, Copetta et al [29] showed that Glomus mossea increased the concentration of alpha-terpineol-an essential oil from Ocimum basilicum-compared to Gigaspora margarita, Gigaspora rosea and non-inoculated control plants.…”

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis as a Promising Resource for Improving Berry Quality in Grapevines Under Changing Environments

“…In another study carried out under nature conditions, Zeng et al (2014) found that Glomus versiforme improved the quality of citrus fruits by increasing the ratio of sugar to acid, and the amounts of vitamin C, flavonoids and minerals. Another woody plant beneficed by mycorrhization in field is Libidibia ferrea , a tree with medicinal properties whose bark accumulated higher amount of flavonoids and tannins when associated with AMF ( dos Santos et al, 2017 ). Mycorrhizal fungi also improved the antioxidant potential of leaves from sweet basil, an aromatic plant widely used for medicinal and cooking purposes ( Hristozkova et al, 2017 ).…”