Mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics application to identify quantitative resistance‐related metabolites in barley against Fusarium head blight

Abstract

Quantitative resistance is generally controlled by several genes. More than 100 resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified in wheat and barley against Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Gibberella zeae (anamorph: Fusarium graminearum), implying the possible occurrence of several resistance mechanisms. The objective of this study was to apply metabolomics to identify the metabolites in barley that are related to resistance against FHB. Barley genotypes, Chevron and Stander, were inoculated with mock or pathogen during the anthesis stage. The disease severity was assessed as the proportion of spikelets diseased. The genotype Chevron (0.33) was found to have a higher level of quantitative resistance than Stander (0.88). Spikelet samples were harvested at 48 h post-inoculation; metabolites were extracted and analysed using an LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap (Thermo Fisher, Waltham, MA, USA). The output was imported to an XCMS 1.12.1 platform, the peaks were deconvoluted and the adducts were sieved. Of the 1826 peaks retained, a t-test identified 496 metabolites with significant treatment effects. Among these, 194 were resistance-related (RR) constitutive metabolites, whose abundance was higher in resistant mock-inoculated than in susceptible mock-inoculated genotypes. Fifty metabolites were assigned putative names on the basis of accurate mass, fragmentation pattern and number of carbons in the formula. The RR metabolites mainly belonged to phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, fatty acid and terpenoid metabolic pathways. Selected RR metabolites were assayed in vitro for antifungal activity on the basis of fungal biomass production. The application of these RR metabolites as potential biomarkers for screening and the potential of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics for the identification of gene functions are discussed.

Metabolomics technology to phenotype resistance in barley against Gibberella zeae

“…Metabolic profiles were developed using a LC hybrid MS system, described in a recently published study by Bollina et al (2010), with a few modifications. The samples were loaded into a 96 well plate and analyzed using an LC-ESI-LTQ Orbitrap (Thermo Fisher, Waltham, MA).…”

“…In the study presented here, metabolomics technology based on LC coupled to a hybrid mass spectrometer (LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap) was employed to phenotype resistance in two-row barley with cleistogamous florets, against G. zeae. Our earlier paper addressed resistance in six-row barley genotypes with chasmogamous florets (Bollina et al 2010). Under field conditions, the former is more resistant than the latter.…”

Metabolic fingerprinting of Tomato Mosaic Virus infected Solanum lycopersicum

“…Our group has been applying this technology to the detection and structure elucidation of metabolites in plants upon 105 treatment with a wide range of biotic and abiotic stress agents (Choi et al, 2004;Simoh et al, 2009;Jahangir et al, 2009;Mirnezhad et al, 2010;Simoh et al, 2010). In recent years, very detailed NMR metabolomic studies on both compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interactions have been reported (Lima et al, 2010;Bollina et al, 2010;Ward et al, 2010;Jones et al, 2011). 110…”

Functional Metabolomics – a Useful Tool to Characterize Stress-Induced Metabolome Alterations Opening New Avenues Towards Tailoring Food Crop Quality

“…Numerous studies already indicate that a complex network of secondary metabolites is influenced by biotic stress challenges. Next to phenylpropanoids, including flavonoids [51][52][53], alkaloids [54,55], terpenoids [52], and fatty acids [56] are known to be up-regulated [10]. In addition, activities [35].…”