Metabolite Profiling and Transcriptome Analyses Provide Insights into the Flavonoid Biosynthesis in the Developing Seed of Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum)

Abstract

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) seeds are rich in flavonoids. However, the detailed flavonoid compositions and the molecular basis of flavonoid biosynthesis in tartary buckwheat seeds remain largely unclear. Here, we performed a combined metabolite profiling and transcriptome analysis to identify flavonoid compositions and characterize genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in the developing tartary buckwheat seeds. In total, 234 flavonoids, including 10 isoflavones, were identified. Of these, 80 flavonoids were significantly differential accumulation during seed development. Transcriptome analysis indicated that most structural genes and some potential regulatory genes of flavonoid biosynthesis were significantly differentially expressed in the course of seed development. Correlation analysis between transcriptome and metabolite profiling shown that the expression patterns of some differentially expressed structural genes and regulatory genes were more consistent with the changes in flavonoids profiles during seed development and promoted one SG7 subgroup R2R3-MYB transcription factors (FtPinG0009153900.01) was identified as the key regulatory gene of flavonoid biosynthesis. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in tartary buckwheat seeds and the further development of tartary buckwheat health products.

Enhanced Chlorophyll Degradation Triggers the Pod Degreening of “Golden Hook,” a Special Ecotype in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

“…Flavonoids, important secondary metabolites found in plants, contribute to plant environmental adaptation, fruit development ( Petroni and Tonelli, 2011 ; Li et al, 2019 ), and human health ( Alipour et al, 2016 ). These compounds are accumulated in various tissues and are also the direct factors that cause color variations in many fruits or flowers.…”

Comparative cellular, physiological and transcriptome analyses reveal the potential easy dehulling mechanism of rice-tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum Tararicum)

“…For RNA-seq, total RNA extraction and library construction for each sample were carried out as described in previously published research [ 2 ]. A total of 24 libraries (eight samples with three biological replicates) were sequenced using the BGISEQ-500 system by Huada Gene Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, China) to generate raw reads.…”

“…Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed as previously described [ 45 ]. The significant DEGs between the samples were identified using the DESeq package based on the threshold of |log2(fold change)| ≥1 and a FDR (false discovery rate) value of < 0.05 [ 2 ]. The stage-specific/preferential genes in both cultivars were identified via the stage specificity (SS) scoring algorithm as described previously [ 45 , 46 ].…”

“…), a member of Polygonaceae family, is a pseudo-cereal crop and mainly grows in mountainous areas of western China and the Himalyas [ 1 ]. In recent years, tartary buckwheat has attracted worldwide attention and gained popularity in the food marketplace due to its abundant nutrients, especially the higher content of bioactive flavonoids which contribute to diverse human health benefits [ 2 – 6 ]. Seed is the major exploitive part of tartary buckwheat for humans [ 2 ], and has been widely used to develop health products such as wine, tea, noodles, cookies, etc.…”

Metabolomics Analyses of Cotyledon and Plumule Showing the Potential Domestic Selection in Lotus Breeding

“…Many functional foods, such as buckwheat, oat, and date fruit, also contain abundant functional metabolites [25,26]. Compared with buckwheat [27], lotus seeds contain fewer flavonoids but more alkaloids and phenolic acids. Although phenolic acids were also abundant in date fruit, its flavonoids and alkaloids contents are much less than lotus seed [26].…”