Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis
The mechanisms by which low light modulates source-sink dynamics, affecting starch synthesis and formation of underground storage organs in geophyte, remain unclear. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted under natural light (NL) and low light (LL, 50% of NL intensity) conditions....
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1544054/full |
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| author | Weijing Yang Weijing Yang Xin Li Xin Li Fei Chang Fei Chang Xue Qiu Xulong Huang Xulong Huang Zhan Feng Zhan Feng Jie Yan Jie Yan Qinghua Wu Qinghua Wu Feiyan Wen Feiyan Wen Jin Pei Jin Pei Tao Zhou Tao Zhou |
| author_facet | Weijing Yang Weijing Yang Xin Li Xin Li Fei Chang Fei Chang Xue Qiu Xulong Huang Xulong Huang Zhan Feng Zhan Feng Jie Yan Jie Yan Qinghua Wu Qinghua Wu Feiyan Wen Feiyan Wen Jin Pei Jin Pei Tao Zhou Tao Zhou |
| author_sort | Weijing Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The mechanisms by which low light modulates source-sink dynamics, affecting starch synthesis and formation of underground storage organs in geophyte, remain unclear. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted under natural light (NL) and low light (LL, 50% of NL intensity) conditions. LL resulted in a 23.66% and 21.23% reduction in corm yield in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Saffron plants under LL had larger, longer leaves with a higher proportion of dry weight (DW) compared to those under NL. Despite the marked inhibition of photosynthetic capacity, initial DW, sucrose and glucose concentrations in leaves were comparable to those under NL. Carbohydrate analysis revealed that starch concentration in the mother corms under LL decreased by 18.00% relative to NL, while sucrose and glucose concentrations increased by 28.44% and 68.44%, respectively. At the corm expansion stage, sucrose concentration in leaves and daughter corms under LL conditions was 17.32% and 54.08% higher than under NL, but glucose and starch concentrations in daughter corms were 22.08% and 10.22% lower, respectively. Additionally, the activity of invertase (INV), sucrose synthase in the decomposition direction (SUS) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) in daughter corms were reduced under LL. LL also affected phytohormones concentrations, with increased levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA1) in LL leaves and daughter corms, and decreased abscisic acid (ABA) levels. Transcriptome and quantitative PCR analyses showed that LL upregulated the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in leaves, while downregulating CsSUS, CsINV1, CsAGPS1, CsZEP, and CsNCED, which are key to sucrose hydrolysis, starch synthesis, and ABA biosynthesis. Exogenous GA3 application further inhibited SUS, INV and AGPase activities in daughter corms, indicating that high GA concentrations impair carbohydrate metabolism in these organs. In conclusion, LL decreases saffron corm yield by promoting the allocation of reserves from mother corms to leaves at the seedling stage. By the period of the daughter corms enlargement, elevated GA1 and IAA levels and reduced ABA concentration promote leaf growth while inhibiting carbohydrate metabolism in daughter corms, thereby reducing sucrose transport from leaves to daughter corms and suppressing corm yield formation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bd75380e714149d6b198b4280e4333ec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-bd75380e714149d6b198b4280e4333ec2025-01-31T05:10:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-01-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15440541544054Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesisWeijing Yang0Weijing Yang1Xin Li2Xin Li3Fei Chang4Fei Chang5Xue Qiu6Xulong Huang7Xulong Huang8Zhan Feng9Zhan Feng10Jie Yan11Jie Yan12Qinghua Wu13Qinghua Wu14Feiyan Wen15Feiyan Wen16Jin Pei17Jin Pei18Tao Zhou19Tao Zhou20State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Zigong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zigong, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaThe mechanisms by which low light modulates source-sink dynamics, affecting starch synthesis and formation of underground storage organs in geophyte, remain unclear. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted under natural light (NL) and low light (LL, 50% of NL intensity) conditions. LL resulted in a 23.66% and 21.23% reduction in corm yield in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Saffron plants under LL had larger, longer leaves with a higher proportion of dry weight (DW) compared to those under NL. Despite the marked inhibition of photosynthetic capacity, initial DW, sucrose and glucose concentrations in leaves were comparable to those under NL. Carbohydrate analysis revealed that starch concentration in the mother corms under LL decreased by 18.00% relative to NL, while sucrose and glucose concentrations increased by 28.44% and 68.44%, respectively. At the corm expansion stage, sucrose concentration in leaves and daughter corms under LL conditions was 17.32% and 54.08% higher than under NL, but glucose and starch concentrations in daughter corms were 22.08% and 10.22% lower, respectively. Additionally, the activity of invertase (INV), sucrose synthase in the decomposition direction (SUS) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) in daughter corms were reduced under LL. LL also affected phytohormones concentrations, with increased levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA1) in LL leaves and daughter corms, and decreased abscisic acid (ABA) levels. Transcriptome and quantitative PCR analyses showed that LL upregulated the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in leaves, while downregulating CsSUS, CsINV1, CsAGPS1, CsZEP, and CsNCED, which are key to sucrose hydrolysis, starch synthesis, and ABA biosynthesis. Exogenous GA3 application further inhibited SUS, INV and AGPase activities in daughter corms, indicating that high GA concentrations impair carbohydrate metabolism in these organs. In conclusion, LL decreases saffron corm yield by promoting the allocation of reserves from mother corms to leaves at the seedling stage. By the period of the daughter corms enlargement, elevated GA1 and IAA levels and reduced ABA concentration promote leaf growth while inhibiting carbohydrate metabolism in daughter corms, thereby reducing sucrose transport from leaves to daughter corms and suppressing corm yield formation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1544054/fullsaffronlow lightcorm yieldsucrosestarchsource-sink relationship |
| spellingShingle | Weijing Yang Weijing Yang Xin Li Xin Li Fei Chang Fei Chang Xue Qiu Xulong Huang Xulong Huang Zhan Feng Zhan Feng Jie Yan Jie Yan Qinghua Wu Qinghua Wu Feiyan Wen Feiyan Wen Jin Pei Jin Pei Tao Zhou Tao Zhou Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis Frontiers in Plant Science saffron low light corm yield sucrose starch source-sink relationship |
| title | Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis |
| title_full | Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis |
| title_fullStr | Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis |
| title_short | Low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis |
| title_sort | low light reduces saffron corm yield by inhibiting starch synthesis |
| topic | saffron low light corm yield sucrose starch source-sink relationship |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1544054/full |
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