Metabolic profiling of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis during desiccation and recovery

Abstract

Desiccation tolerance is among the most important parameters for crop improvement under changing environments. Resurrection plants are useful models for both theoretical and practical studies. We performed metabolite profiling via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed the antioxidant capacity of the endemic resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis at desiccation and recovery. More than 100 compounds were evaluated. Stress response included changes in both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. The high amounts of the specific glycoside myconoside and some phenolic acids - e.g. syringic and dihydrocaffeic acid under normal conditions tend to show their importance for the priming of H. rhodopensis to withstand severe desiccation and oxidative stress. The accumulation of sucrose (resulting from starch breakdown), total phenols, β-aminoisobutyric acid, β-sitosterol and α-tocopherol increased up to several times at later stages of desiccation. Extracts of H. rhodopensis showed high antioxidant capacity at stress and normal conditions. Myconoside was with the highest antioxidant properties among tested phenolic compounds. Probably, the evolution of resurrection plants under various local environments has resulted in unique desiccation tolerance with specific metabolic background. In our case, it includes the accumulation of a relatively rare compound (myconoside) that contributes alone and together with other common metabolites. Further systems biology studies on the involvement of carbohydrates, phenolic acids and glycosides in the desiccation tolerance and antioxidant capacity of H. rhodopensis will definitely help in achieving the final goal - improving crop drought tolerance.

Leaf rehydration capacity: Associations with other indices of drought tolerance and environment

“…These species are evergreens native to chaparral, adapted to maintaining leaves through severe drought events (Venturas et al, ). In this way, they show a degree of “resurrection” type behaviour, such as that found in species that can recover from virtually complete dehydration (>300 pteridophytes and angiosperms [Rascio & Rocca, ];e.g., Boea hygrometrica [Xiao et al, ], Craterostigma wilmsii [Cooper & Farrant, ], Haberlea rhodopensis [Moyankova et al, ], and Selaginella lepidophylla [Eickmeier, ]). Further study is needed in areas that experience extreme drought cycles, especially within the growing period of the year, to establish the metabolic and functional viability of rehydrated leaves.…”

Plant Desiccation Tolerance and its Regulation in the Foliage of Resurrection “Flowering-Plant” Species

“…The 40% catalase expression level remains important since inhibition of catalase activity rendered the plants partially sensitive to dehydration [87]. During drying H. rhodopensis increased its total content of phenols, especially of the antioxidant myconoside, but the plant's total antioxidant capacity fell to 70% of the level in the hydrated control [88]. In B. hygrometrica (a desiccation-tolerant species) levels of ROS were low in dry viable plants but high in plants killed by rapid drying.…”

Haberlea rhodopensis: pharmaceutical and medical potential as a food additive

“…Thus, extracts of H. rhodopensis showed high antioxidant capacity at stress and normal conditions, where myconoside showed the highest antioxidant properties among tested phenolic compounds (Moyankova et al 2014). Alcoholic extracts of H. rhodopensis possess strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and their biologically responsible compounds should be studied for potential synergic and potential side effects.…”

“…The evolution of resurrection plants under various local environments may result in unique desiccation tolerance with specific metabolic background, where the accumulation of myconoside contributes alone and together with other common metabolites (Moyankova et al 2014). Further studies on the involvement of carbohydrates, phenolic acids and glycosides in the desiccation tolerance and antioxidant capacity of H. rhodopensis will help improve crop drought tolerance (Moyankova et al 2014).…”

“…Further studies on the involvement of carbohydrates, phenolic acids and glycosides in the desiccation tolerance and antioxidant capacity of H. rhodopensis will help improve crop drought tolerance (Moyankova et al 2014). The ability of H. rhodopensis to recover after long-lasting drought could be used as a model system to study the resistance of crops and other cultures against the climatic changes.…”