Chickpeas from a Chilean Region Affected by a Climate-Related Catastrophe: Effects of Water Stress on Grain Yield and Flavonoid Composition

Abstract

The Valparaiso region in Chile was decreed a zone affected by catastrophe in 2019 as a consequence of one of the driest seasons of the last 50 years. In this study, three varieties (‘Alfa-INIA’, ‘California-INIA’, and one landrace, ‘Local Navidad’) of kabuli-type chickpea seeds produced in 2018 (control) and 2019 (climate-related catastrophe, hereafter named water stress) were evaluated for their grain yield. Furthermore, the flavonoid profile of both free and esterified phenolic extracts was determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the concentration of the main flavonoid, biochanin A, was determined using liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The grain yield was decreased by up to 25 times in 2019. The concentration of biochanin A was up to 3.2 times higher in samples from the second season (water stress). This study demonstrates that water stress induces biosynthesis of biochanin A. However, positive changes in the biochanin A concentration are overshadowed by negative changes in the grain yield. Therefore, water stress, which may be worsened by climate change in the upcoming years, may jeopardize both the production of chickpeas and the supply of biochanin A, a bioactive compound that can be used to produce dietary supplements and/or nutraceuticals.

Soluble Free, Esterified and Insoluble-Bound Phenolic Antioxidants from Chickpeas Prevent Cytotoxicity in Human Hepatoma HuH-7 Cells Induced by Peroxyl Radicals

“…Meanwhile, two MRM transitions were considered and 15 compounds recognized by the molecular and other specific ions. The scanned m/z of compounds coincided with those previously reported in chickpeas [ 21 ] and other legumes [ 34 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, we did not detect kaempferol in the free phenolic fraction of ‘California-INIA’ and ’Alfa-INIA’. In addition, rutin was found in the soluble fractions in the three evaluated varieties (‘California-INIA’, ’Alfa-INIA’, and ‘Local Navidad’) [ 21 ]. Insoluble-bound kaempferol, rutin, and isorhamnetin were detected in all varieties, but insoluble-bound luteolin was absent.…”

“…Free and esterified phenolic compounds were extracted from dry chickpea samples as reported previously [ 21 , 23 ]. These samples were divided into portions and mixed with water (1:3, w / v ).…”

“…In previous studies, we compared three of these varieties according to their affected flavonoid profiles due to climate changes in two years [ 21 ]. We found differences in free and esterified flavonoids detection in ‘Local Navidad’, ‘California-INIA’, and ‘Alfa-INIA’, but the fraction containing insoluble-bound compounds was not considered.…”

Water Stress Influences Phytoestrogen Levels in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) but Not Kura Clover (T. ambiguum)

“…We are not aware of previous studies that have examined phytoestrogen response in red clover to experimentally manipulated drought or waterlogging stress; however, de Camargo et al 29 reported cultivars of chickpeas produced up to 3.2 times higher concentrations of biochanin A during a severe drought year compared to a previous year with ample rainfall. 29 Similarly, research conducted on soybeans demonstrated plants grown under mild drought stress increased isoflavone concentration (∼3%) compared to wellwatered plants, 30 and soybean seeds from plants grown under drought stress conditions in growth chambers had elevated levels of genistein compared to seeds from plants grown under the same conditions but with adequate water. 31 Also in line with our findings, greater isoflavone concentration was measured in soybean grain when plants were grown in waterlogged conditions compared to under well-watered conditions.…”