Abstract
A total of 1,622 samples representing 201 Medicago truncatula ecotypes were analyzed using ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) to ascertain saponin profiles in different M. truncatula ecotypes and to provide data for a genome-wide association study and subsequent line selection for saponin biosynthesis. These ecotypes originated from 14 different Mediterranean countries, i.e., Algeria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. The results revealed significant differences in the saponin content among the ecotypes. European ecotypes generally contained higher saponin content than African ecotypes (p < 0.0001). This suggests that M. truncatula ecotypes modulate their secondary metabolism to adapt to their environments. Significant differences in saponin accumulation were also observed between the aerial and the root tissues of the same ecotypes (p < 0.0001). While some saponins were found to be present in both the aerial and root tissues, zanhic acid glycosides were found predominantly in the aerial tissues. Bayogenin and hederagenin glycosides were found mostly in roots. The differential spatially resolved accumulation of saponins suggests that saponins in the aerial and root tissues play different roles in plant fitness. Aerial saponins such as zanhic glycosides may act as animal feeding deterrent and root saponins may protect against soil microbes.
Highlights
Legumes are economically important and widely cultivated crops
Most of the North African and Middle East ecotypes appeared to produce less biomass compared to the European ecotypes, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3)
The results showed that there was significant difference in the saponin content among different ecotypes (p < 0.0001) as well as between the aerial and the root tissues of the same ecotypes (p < 0.0001)
Summary
Legumes are economically important and widely cultivated crops. They contain relatively high protein content and are important sources of protein for both humans and animals. Their high protein content may be attributed to their unique symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Legumes produce a vast array of natural products including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, anthocyanins, condensed tannins, lignin, and saponins (Dixon and Sumner, 2003). These natural products play important roles in many important biological processes and are important to legume quality. Condensed tannins can prevent bloat associated with animals grazing on legumes with high protein
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