Plant Secondary Metabolites: Regulation Technique and Synthesis Mechanism

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 1683

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: phytochemicals accumulation; sprouts producing; seeds germination; gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolism and its signal function; phenolics accumulation; food chemistry; metabolomics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The significance of secondary metabolites in plant growth and development is paramount. Plants exhibit adaptability to both normal and stressful conditions through the regulation of secondary metabolites, particularly bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, saponins, melanin, and polysaccharides. These plant secondary metabolites have been proven to offer a range of health benefits, including disease antagonism and other therapeutic effects. Various traditional and innovative methods, such as germination, exogenous plant hormones, abiotic stress, and physical treatment, are used to enhance the accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants due to their typically low levels. Moreover, there is a need for further explorations of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the biosynthesis of active substances in plants through these enrichment techniques. Considering this, the forthcoming Special Issue will showcase original research articles focusing on the latest discoveries related to the enrichment techniques and molecular mechanisms governing plant secondary metabolites, including the following:

  • The effects of exogenous treatment and abiotic stress on plant secondary metabolites;
  • Traditional and new techniques for promoting the enrichment of plant secondary metabolites;
  • The mechanism of synthetic metabolism of secondary metabolites in plants;
  • The central roles of secondary metabolites in plant growth and development, especially under stress conditions;
  • The coordination of phytohormones and abiotic stress with signaling molecules to maintain sophisticated networks that regulate secondary metabolism.

Dr. Yongqi Yin
Dr. Runqiang Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • secondary metabolism
  • normal and stress conditions
  • bioactive compounds
  • phytohormones
  • germination
  • physiological metabolism
  • biosynthesis mechanism
  • signaling molecules
  • gene expression

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3176 KiB  
Article
Germination Promotes Flavonoid Accumulation of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.): Response Surface Optimization and Investigation of Accumulation Mechanism
by Jing Zhang, Jia Yang and Yongqi Yin
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2191; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162191 - 8 Aug 2024
Viewed by 540
Abstract
Germination is an effective measure to regulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants. In this study, we optimized the germination conditions of finger millet by response surface methodology. Meanwhile, physiological characteristics and gene expression were measured to investigate the mechanism of flavonoid [...] Read more.
Germination is an effective measure to regulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants. In this study, we optimized the germination conditions of finger millet by response surface methodology. Meanwhile, physiological characteristics and gene expression were measured to investigate the mechanism of flavonoid accumulation in finger millet at the germination stage. The results showed that when germination time was 5.7 d, germination temperature was 31.2 °C, and light duration was 17.5 h, the flavonoid content of millet sprouts was the highest (7.0 μg/sprout). The activities and relative gene expression of key enzymes for flavonoid synthesis (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, 4-coumarate-coenzyme a ligase, and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase) were significantly higher in finger millet sprouts germinated at 3 and 5 d compared with that in ungerminated seeds (p < 0.05). In addition, germination enhanced the activities of four antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and up-regulated the gene expression of PAL and APX. Germination increased malondialdehyde content in sprouts, which resulted in cell damage. Subsequently, the antioxidant capacity of the sprouts was enhanced through the activation of antioxidant enzymes and the up-regulation of their gene expression, as well as the synthesis of active substances, including flavonoids, total phenolics, and anthocyanins. This process served to alleviate germination-induced cellular injury. These findings provide a research basis for the regulation of finger millet germination and the enhancement of its nutritional and functional properties. Full article
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12 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
Methyl Jasmonate and Zinc Sulfate Induce Secondary Metabolism and Phenolic Acid Biosynthesis in Barley Seedlings
by Xin Tian, Renjiao Zhang, Zhengfei Yang and Weiming Fang
Plants 2024, 13(11), 1512; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111512 - 30 May 2024
Viewed by 676
Abstract
This study aimed to reveal the impact of MeJA and ZnSO4 treatments on the physiological metabolism of barley seedlings and the content of phenolic acid. The results showed that MeJA (100 μM) and ZnSO4 (4 mM) treatments effectively increased the phenolic [...] Read more.
This study aimed to reveal the impact of MeJA and ZnSO4 treatments on the physiological metabolism of barley seedlings and the content of phenolic acid. The results showed that MeJA (100 μM) and ZnSO4 (4 mM) treatments effectively increased the phenolic acid content by increasing the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (PAL) and cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and by up-regulating the expression of genes involved in phenolic acid synthesis. As a result of the MeJA or ZnSO4 treatment, the phenolic acid content increased by 35.3% and 30.9% at four days and by 33.8% and 34.5% at six days, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, MeJA and ZnSO4 treatments significantly increased the malondialdehyde content, causing cell membrane damage and decreasing the fresh weight and seedling length. Barley seedlings responded to MeJA- and ZnSO4-induced stress by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and controlling their gene expression levels. Meanwhile, MeJA and ZnSO4 treatments significantly upregulated calcium-adenosine triphosphate, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-related kinase, and calmodulin-dependent protein genes in barley seedlings. This suggested that Ca2+ may be the signaling molecule that promotes phenolic acid synthesis under MeJA and ZnSO4 treatment. This study deepens the understanding of the phenolic acid enrichment process in barley seedlings under MeJA and ZnSO4 treatments. Full article
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