Diversity and correlation analysis of endophytes and metabolites of Panax quinquefolius L. in various tissues

Abstract

Background Panax quinquefolius L. (American ginseng) is widely used in medicine due to its wealth of diverse pharmacological effects. Endophytes colonize within P. quinquefolius in multiple tissue types. However, the relationship between endophytes and the production of their active ingredients in different parts of the plant is not clear. Results In this study, the relationship of endophytic diversity and the metabolites produced in different plant tissues of P. quinquefolius were analyzed using metagenomic and metabolomic approaches. The results showed relatively similar endophyte composition in roots and fibrils, but obvious differences between endophyte populations in stems and leaves. Species abundance analysis showed that at the phylum level, the dominant bacterial phylum was Cyanobacteria for roots, fibrils, stems and leaves, Ascomycota forroots and fibrils roots, and Basidiomycota for stems and leaves. LC-MS/MS technology was used to quantitatively analyze the metabolites in different tissues of P. quinquefolius. A total of 398 metabolites and 294 differential metaboliteswere identified, mainly organic acids, sugars, amino acids, polyphenols, and saponins. Most of the differential metabolites were enriched in metabolic pathways such as phenylpropane biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, citric acid cycle, and amino acid biosynthesis. Correlation analysis showed a positive and negative correlation between the endophytes and the differential metabolites. Conexibacter significantly enriched in root and fibril was significantly positively correlated with saponin differential metabolites, while cyberlindnera significantly enriched in stem and leaf was significantly negatively correlated with differential metabolites (p < 0.05). Conclusion The endophytic communities diversity were relatively similar in the roots and fibrils of P. quinquefolius, while there were greater differences between the stems and leaves. There was significant difference in metabolite content between different tissues of P. quinquefolius. Correlation analysis methods demonstrated a correlation between endophytes and differential metabolism.

Revealing Medicinal Constituents of Bistorta vivipara Based on Non-Targeted Metabolomics and 16S rDNA Gene Sequencing Technology

“…The results show that the HL sampling area had the highest number of endophytic bacterial OTUs in the root of B. vivipara , which accounted for 38.44%, whereas the GQ sampling area had the lowest number of endophytic bacterial OTUs in the root of B. vivipara , which accounted for 3.22% ( Figure 4 ). The number of endophytic bacterial OTUs shared by the B. vivipara roots, which were collected from five different sampling areas, was extremely low, ranging from 0% to 1.47%, indicating that the composition of endophytic bacteria in B. vivipara roots, collected from different sampling areas, may be significantly different ( Figure 4 ) [ 19 ]. The diversity and abundance of endophytic bacteria in the roots of B. vivipara , which were collected from different sampling areas, were analyzed using Chao1, Simpson, and Shannon indices ( Figure 5 , Table 1 ).…”

“…In previous studies, many chemical constituents extracted from the tissues of the roots, stems, and leaves of host plants were shown to have important medicinal value, such as saponins, phenolic acids, etc. [ 19 , 20 ]. A study focusing on different metabolites in the root samples of B. vivipara showed that the metabolites with significant differences (and with respect to each sampling area) included many important medicinal components.…”

“…Endophytes are associated with most plant species in ecosystems. They are microorganisms that colonize plant tissues such as roots, stems, and leaves without causing adverse effects on the host plant [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. They enter plants via microorganisms on the plant surface, plant rhizosphere, and environment through leaves, flowers, seeds, pollen, natural holes, and wounds, and they colonize for a long time, thus forming plant endophytes [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…Due to the long-term symbiotic relationship with the host, endophytes effectively avoid many harsh environmental factors and help plants absorb soil nutrients; they also resist the invasion of pathogenic fungi, which has great potential in improving plant health. Therefore, joint multi-omics analysis is an important tool with which to reveal the correlation between plant endophyte flora and metabolites [ 12 , 19 , 20 , 31 ]. A study focusing on endophytic bacteria and metabolites in Ginkgo biloba leaves by Fu et al revealed the regulation of endophytic bacterial communities using flavonoid compounds and altitude changes [ 25 ].…”

Temporal patterns of endophytic microbial heterogeneity across distinct ecological compartments within the Panax ginseng root system following deforestation for cultivation

“… Li et al (2023) highlighted Ascomycota as the dominant fungal phylum in ginseng roots. Our research expanded on this by including Basidiomycota in addition to Ascomycota.…”