Preliminary Study on the Effects of Two Different Nitrogen Forms on Flavonoids Accumulation and Related Molecular Mechanism in Medicinal Plant Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

Authors Zhang Qiang; Liu Yi; Wu Xiaomin; Shu Liangzuo; Song Yunxian; Chen Chu; Long Minhui

Journal Bulletin of Botanical Research , 2018,3:38

Abstract The effects of two different nitrogen(N) forms(nitrate-N and ammonium-N) on the accumulation of flavonoids(procyanidin B1, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, isoquercitrin and kaempferol) in the endangered medicinal plant Tetrastigma hemsleyanum(from Zhejiang Province) were examined through potted experiment under shady condition(30% natural light), and its influence mechanism was also discussed. The flavonoids content was relatively higher in the root and leaf of T.hemsleyanum under nitrate-N supply than ammonium-N supply. The levels of transcription and expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL) and chalcone synthase(CHS) which are related to flavonoids synthesis were relatively higher in the root and leaf of T.hemsleyanum under nitrate-N supply than ammonium-N supply. Besides, the enzyme activities of PAL and CHS were also higher in the root and leaf of T.hemsleyanum under nitrate-N supply than ammonium-N supply. The PAL-specific inhibitor(AOA) could significantly inhibit the enzyme activity of PAL(P<0.05) and lead to a very significant decrease in flavonoids content(P<0.01). In conclusion, nitrate-N supply is more beneficial to flavonoids synthesis in T.hemsleyanum, which mainly enhances the flavonoids synthesis by increasing the gene expression and activity of key enzymes in PAL metabolic pathway.

Species covered 三叶崖爬藤 Tetrastigma hemsleyanum