Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Nitraria</i> Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude

<b>Background:</b> Plants of <i>Nitraria</i>, belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, are not only widely distributed at an altitude of about 1000 m but also at an altitude of about 3000 m, which is a rare phenomenon. However, little is known about the effect of altitude on t...

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Main Authors: Qing Zhao, Jie Zhang, Yanhong Li, Zufan Yang, Qian Wang, Qiangqiang Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/591
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Summary:<b>Background:</b> Plants of <i>Nitraria</i>, belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, are not only widely distributed at an altitude of about 1000 m but also at an altitude of about 3000 m, which is a rare phenomenon. However, little is known about the effect of altitude on the accumulation of metabolites in plants of <i>Nitraria</i>. Furthermore, the mechanism of the high–altitude adaptation of <i>Nitraria</i> has yet to be fully elucidated. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to investigate the differential accumulation of metabolites of <i>Nitraria</i> berries and the regulatory mechanisms in different altitudes. <b>Results:</b> As a result, the biosynthesis of flavonoids is the most significant metabolic pathway in the process of adaptation to high altitude, and 5 Cyanidins, 1 Pelargonidin, 3 Petunidins, 1 Peonidin, and 4 Delphinidins are highly accumulated in high–altitude <i>Nitraria</i>. The results of transcriptomics showed that the structural genes <i>C</i>4<i>H</i> (2), <i>F</i>3<i>H</i>, 4<i>CL</i> (2), <i>DFR</i> (2), <i>UFGT</i> (2), and <i>FLS</i> (2) were highly expressed in high–altitude <i>Nitraria</i>. A network metabolism map of flavonoids was constructed, and the accumulation of differential metabolites and the expression of structural genes were analyzed for correlation. <b>Conclusions:</b> In summary, this study preliminarily offers a new understanding of metabolic differences and regulation mechanisms in plants of <i>Nitraria</i> from different altitudes.
ISSN:2218-1989