Pollen is a cornerstone of life for plants. Its durability, adaptability, and complex design are the key factors to successful plant reproduction, genetic diversity, and the maintenance of ecosystems. A detailed study of its chemical composition is important to understand the mechanism of pollen-pollinator interactions, pollination processes, and allergic reactions. In this study, a multimodal approach involving Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), direct mass spectrometry with an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was applied for metabolite profiling. ATR-FTIR provided an initial overview of the present metabolite classes. Phenylpropanoid, lipidic, and carbohydrate structures were revealed. The hydrophobic outer layer of pollen was characterized in detail by ASAP-MS profiling, and esters, phytosterols, and terpenoids were observed. Diacyl- and triacylglycerols and carbohydrate structures were identified in MALDI-MS spectra. The MALDI-MS imaging of lipids proved to be helpful during the microscopic characterization of pollen species in their mixture. Polyphenol profiling and the quantification of important secondary metabolites were performed by UHPLC-MS in context with pollen coloration and their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The obtained results revealed significant chemical differences among Magnoliophyta and Pinophyta pollen. Additionally, some variations within Magnoliophyta species were observed. The obtained metabolomics data were utilized for pollen differentiation at the taxonomic scale and provided valuable information in relation to pollen interactions during reproduction and its related applications.
- Keywords
- Magnoliophyta, Pinophyta, atmospheric solids analysis probe, infrared spectrometry, mass spectrometry, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, metabolite profiling, metabolomics, pollen, secondary metabolite, taxonomic differentiation, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography,
- MeSH
- Metabolome * MeSH
- Metabolomics * methods MeSH
- Pollen * metabolism chemistry MeSH
- Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization MeSH
- Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared MeSH
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
We showed that wild pea seeds contained a more diverse combination of bioactive GAs and had higher ABA content than domesticated peas. Although the role of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) interplay has been extensively studied in Arabidopsis and cereals models, comparatively little is known about the effect of domestication on the level of phytohormones in legume seeds. In legumes, as in other crops, seed dormancy has been largely or entirely removed during domestication. In this study, we have measured the endogenous levels of ABA and GAs comparatively between wild and domesticated pea seeds during their development. We have shown that wild seeds contained more ABA than domesticated ones, which could be important for preparing the seeds for the period of dormancy. ABA was catabolised particularly by an 8´-hydroxylation pathway, and dihydrophaseic acid was the main catabolite in seed coats as well as embryos. Besides, the seed coats of wild and pigmented cultivated genotypes were characterised by a broader spectrum of bioactive GAs compared to non-pigmented domesticated seeds. GAs in both seed coat and embryo were synthesized mainly by a 13-hydroxylation pathway, with GA29 being the most abundant in the seed coat and GA20 in the embryos. Measuring seed water content and water loss indicated domesticated pea seeds´ desiccation was slower than that of wild pea seeds. Altogether, we showed that pea domestication led to a change in bioactive GA composition and a lower ABA content during seed development.
- Keywords
- Desiccation, Legume, Maturation, Phytohormones, Pigmentation, Seed-coat,
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis * genetics MeSH
- Domestication MeSH
- Gibberellins metabolism MeSH
- Pisum sativum genetics metabolism MeSH
- Germination MeSH
- Abscisic Acid * metabolism MeSH
- Seeds MeSH
- Plant Dormancy genetics MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Gibberellins MeSH
- Abscisic Acid * MeSH
Increasing the proportion of locally produced plant protein in currently meat-rich diets could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity1. However, plant protein production is hampered by the lack of a cool-season legume equivalent to soybean in agronomic value2. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has a high yield potential and is well suited for cultivation in temperate regions, but genomic resources are scarce. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of the faba bean genome and show that it has expanded to a massive 13 Gb in size through an imbalance between the rates of amplification and elimination of retrotransposons and satellite repeats. Genes and recombination events are evenly dispersed across chromosomes and the gene space is remarkably compact considering the genome size, although with substantial copy number variation driven by tandem duplication. Demonstrating practical application of the genome sequence, we develop a targeted genotyping assay and use high-resolution genome-wide association analysis to dissect the genetic basis of seed size and hilum colour. The resources presented constitute a genomics-based breeding platform for faba bean, enabling breeders and geneticists to accelerate the improvement of sustainable protein production across the Mediterranean, subtropical and northern temperate agroecological zones.
- MeSH
- Gene Amplification genetics MeSH
- Genome-Wide Association Study MeSH
- Chromosomes, Plant genetics MeSH
- Diploidy * MeSH
- Genetic Variation * genetics MeSH
- Genome, Plant * genetics MeSH
- Genomics * MeSH
- Recombination, Genetic MeSH
- Retroelements genetics MeSH
- Genes, Plant genetics MeSH
- Plant Proteins * genetics metabolism MeSH
- DNA, Satellite genetics MeSH
- Seeds anatomy & histology genetics MeSH
- Plant Breeding * methods MeSH
- DNA Copy Number Variations genetics MeSH
- Vicia faba * anatomy & histology genetics metabolism MeSH
- Crops, Agricultural * genetics metabolism MeSH
- Geography MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Retroelements MeSH
- Plant Proteins * MeSH
- DNA, Satellite MeSH
