Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Effects of Grafting on Special Metabolites of Acanthopanax senticosus Leaves

Abstract

Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus) is a member of Acanthopanax Miq. and is used in traditional Chinese medicine, and it has been found that grafting technology can be used to alter plant metabolite composition and transcriptome characteristics. In this study, shoots of A. senticosus were grafted onto the rootstocks of the vigorous Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (A. sessiliflorus) to improve its varietal characteristics. In order to investigate the changes in metabolites and transcriptional patterns in grafted A. senticosus leaves (GSCL), fresh leaves were collected from 2-year-old grafted A. senticosus scions, while self-rooted seedling A. senticosus leaves (SCL) were used as controls to analyse the transcriptome and metabolome. Metabolic profiles and gene expression patterns were further identified and correlated in special metabolite target pathways. The content of chlorogenic acid and triterpenoids in the GSCL was higher than in the control, while the quercetin content was lower. All these metabolic changes were associated with changes in the expression pattern of transcripts. Our results revealed the transcriptome and metabolome characteristics of GSCL. This may help to improve leaf quality in A. senticosus cultivation, suggesting that it is feasible to improve the medicinal quality of GSCL through asexual propagation, but the long-term effects need further investigation. In conclusion, this dataset provides a useful resource for future studies on the effects of grafting on medicinal plants.

Transcriptome analysis revealed the role of moderate exogenous methyl jasmonate treatments in enhancing the metabolic pathway of L-borneol in the Blumea balsamifera

“…This suggests that the upregulated DXR gene expression in C. camphora could lead to an increase in terpenoid content (Du et al, 2022). Wang et al (2023) indicated that the OfDXR gene is very important for making terpenoid compounds and that overexpressing it in Arabidopsis plants during the main or full blooming stage led to a rise in the total amount of terpenoid compounds. Zhang et al (2022) found that DXS, DXR, and ispH in the MEP pathway and GGPS were significantly expressed in summer Chinese cedar (SCC) needles and increased the accumulation of terpenoids, notably diterpenoids.…”

Table_1.docx

“…This suggests that the upregulated DXR gene expression in C. camphora could lead to an increase in terpenoid content (Du et al, 2022). Wang et al (2023) indicated that the OfDXR gene is very important for making terpenoid compounds and that overexpressing it in Arabidopsis plants during the main or full blooming stage led to a rise in the total amount of terpenoid compounds. Zhang et al (2022) found that DXS, DXR, and ispH in the MEP pathway and GGPS were significantly expressed in summer Chinese cedar (SCC) needles and increased the accumulation of terpenoids, notably diterpenoids.…”

“…balsamifera DC has grown abundantly for medicine and cosmetics recently (Pang et al, 2014;Jirakitticharoen et al, 2022). The metabolite accumulation pattern of B. balsamifera DC could be affected by cultivating conditions and the external environment (Wang et al, 2023). Research revealed that the content of L-borneol was different in different tissues at different developmental stages (Pang et al, 2017;Guan et al, 2022).…”

Table_3.xls

“…This suggests that the upregulated DXR gene expression in C. camphora could lead to an increase in terpenoid content (Du et al, 2022). Wang et al (2023) indicated that the OfDXR gene is very important for making terpenoid compounds and that overexpressing it in Arabidopsis plants during the main or full blooming stage led to a rise in the total amount of terpenoid compounds. Zhang et al (2022) found that DXS, DXR, and ispH in the MEP pathway and GGPS were significantly expressed in summer Chinese cedar (SCC) needles and increased the accumulation of terpenoids, notably diterpenoids.…”

“…balsamifera DC has grown abundantly for medicine and cosmetics recently (Pang et al, 2014;Jirakitticharoen et al, 2022). The metabolite accumulation pattern of B. balsamifera DC could be affected by cultivating conditions and the external environment (Wang et al, 2023). Research revealed that the content of L-borneol was different in different tissues at different developmental stages (Pang et al, 2017;Guan et al, 2022).…”