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Special Issue "Diversity and Regulation of Metabolites in Forest Plants"

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 5508

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Prof. Dr. Zhonghua Tang

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Guest Editor

College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Interests: research based on multi-omics to investigate the mechanism of metabolic regulation of plant resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Chao Wang

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Interests: MYB transcription factor; secondary cell wall; Betula; gene expression

Prof. Dr. Fang Yu

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Guest Editor

School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
Interests: secondary metabolites; biosynthesis; metabolic pathways

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is great diversity of plant metabolites, with an estimated existence of between 100,000 and 1 million. In plants, they play multiple roles in the process of growth, and are used by humans in making medicines and foods. Metabolites can be classified into two groups: primary and specialized (secondary) metabolites. Primary metabolites are found in all plants and encourage plants to grow, develop, and reproduce. Specialized metabolites are unique to different plants, and help plants to interact with each other and their surroundings. For example, when an insect begins to eat the leaves of a cabbage, the plant increases the amount of toxic specialized metabolites called glucosinolates, which are then converted into even more toxic compounds. Plants use specialized metabolites to deter enemies (herbivores) and keep friends (pollinators) close. Compared with agricultural crops and model plants, our understanding of metabolic diversity and regulation in forest plants is limited, mainly due to their long life cycles, large genome sizes, and lack of genomic tools. In the context of climate change, it is increasingly important to strengthen our understanding of the metabolites of forestry plants in response to abiotic and biotic stresses.

Prof. Dr. Zhonghua Tang
Prof. Dr. Chao Wang
Prof. Dr. Fang Yu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

metabolites
diversity and function
forest plant
environmental changes

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Tissue Metabolic Responses to Artificial Bending and Gravitation Stimuli in Betula platyphylla

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Forests 2023, 14(3), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030457 - 22 Feb 2023

Viewed by 992

Abstract

Betula platyphylla Suk (Asian white birch) is an economically important tree species in the paper-pulping and biofuel industries. To investigate the mechanism of wood formation at the metabolic level, we evaluated metabolic responses associated with tension-wood formation. Four-year-old trees were subjected to artificial bending treatment for 6 weeks. The xylem growth rate of tension wood (TW) was significantly faster than that of opposite wood (OW), and it exhibited a higher cellulose content. Metabolomics analysis was performed on metabolites of TW, OW and normal wood (NW), and 183 metabolites were identified, of which levels of 142 were altered between groups. Metabolites related to fatty-acid and amino-acid metabolism, the glycolytic pathway, and the metabolism of fructose, mannose and starch sucrose were abundant in TW. Glucose 1-phosphoric acid, fructose and mannose associated with tension-wood development were elevated. Levels of xylitol and ribosol (related to the conversion of glucose), coniferol (the main monomer of lignin) and shikimic acid (an intermediate in lignin synthesis) were decreased in TW. These metabolites are likely involved in xylem development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Regulation of Metabolites in Forest Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Seasonally Adaptive Metabolic Response Strategies of Two Acer Species

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Forests 2022, 13(12), 2141; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122141 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1117

Abstract

Acer L. species are well known as ornamental trees due to their colourful leaves in autumn season. Acer pictum subsp. mono (Maxim.) H. Ohashi (APM) and Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala (Maximowicz) Wesmael (ATG) form leaves with completely different colours in autumn, yellow and red, respectively. In response to this phenomenon, we investigated the metabolic regulation of APM and ATG in different seasons by combining metabolomics, ionomics, the antioxidant system and pigment content. The results showed that the process of senescence and discolouration exists in leaves of different Acer species, and the regulatory strategy shows species specificity. Compared with green leaves, the accumulation of primary metabolites in autumn leaves of APM was extensively depleted, chlorophyll content was decreased, and antioxidant enzymes and C6C3C6 type phenolic compounds synergistically enhanced the antioxidant capacity of plants to cope with senescence. Carotenoid content was raised, which together with phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, rutin) provides the leaves with a yellow colour. The response of chlorophyll and the antioxidant system in autumn leaves of ATG is consistent with that of APM, while sugar content increases. The increased anthocyanin content in autumn leaves of ATG explains the transition of leaves from green to the red colour, which may be accompanied by the combined effect of elements (Fe, Zn, Mn) and isoflavones. This study provides a reference for the study of colouration mechanism and seasonal adaptation in Acer L. species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Regulation of Metabolites in Forest Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

The Interrelationship between Latitudinal Differences and Metabolic Differences in the Natural Distribution Area of Tilia amurensis Rupr.

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Forests 2022, 13(9), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091507 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1038

Abstract

Tilia amurensis Rupr. is a crucial species widely used in our life, because its wood is easy to process due to its low specific gravity and good elasticity. To understand the effect of the latitudinal gradients on T. amurensis metabolites profiles, we collected data from six different latitudes about physiological indicators such as temperature, light, and precipitation, then analyzed the differences in T. amurensis metabolite profiles from these different latitudes. The metabolomes of the six latitudes (SFS 49°28′53.26″ N, WY 48°06′51.314″ N, LS 47°11′1.71″ N, BL 45°7′55″ N, BH 43°50′16.8″ N, and TS 40′30.89″ N) were compared using GC–MS/LC–MS, and significant differences in primary and secondary metabolites were found. A total of 29 primary metabolites were screened by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and 34 flavonoids were determined using the targeted metabolomics methods. A total of 11 flavonoids in secondary metabolites were significantly different in the LS region compared with other areas. The main physiological indicator that differs between the LS region and other regions was the annual sunshine percentage. This indicates that the metabolic differences in T. amurensis at different latitudes may be affected by environmental factors such as annual sunshine percentage. As a vital species, T. amurensis metabolites change with different environmental factors, indicating that this species has different adaptability to the environment of different latitudes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Regulation of Metabolites in Forest Plants)

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Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Identification and Profiling of miRNAs Involved in Terpenoid Synthesis of Gleditsia sinensis Lam.

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Forests 2022, 13(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13010108 - 12 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1690

Abstract

Gleditsia sinensis Lam. is a tree with worldwide distribution and important economic and medicinal values; its pods contain terpenoids including gleditsioside, thiamine, and brassinosteroids. However, thus far, there are few studies on the terpenoid regulation of G. sinensis at the molecular level. microRNA (miRNA) is a class of small RNAs with conserved and crucial roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes during plant growth and development. To identify the miRNAs of G. sinensis and evaluate their involvement in terpenoid synthesis, this investigation quantified the content changes in saponins in pods at three developmental stages: May (pod-setting stage), July (elongation stage), and September (browning stage), and then we performed genome-wide miRNA profiles during the three development stages of the G. sinensis pods. A total of 351 conserved miRNAs belonging to 216 families were identified, among which 36 conserved miRNAs exist specifically in legumes. Through target analysis, 708 unigenes were predicted to be candidate targets of 37 differentially expressed miRNAs. The targets of miR838-3p and miR2093-5p were involved in the derived branches of monoterpenes and gleditsioside, in brassinosteroid biosynthesis (BRB), and in indole alkaloid biosynthesis (IAB). Intriguingly, the targets of miR829-3p.1 were predicted to take part in thiamine biosynthesis, and the targets of miR4414b and miR5037a were involved in the main process of cytokinin synthesis. The corresponding targets participated in BRB, IAB, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, which were enriched significantly, suggesting that miR2093-5p, miR4414b, miR5037a, miR829-3p.1, and miR838-3p play indispensable roles in the regulation of triterpenoid saponin and monoterpenoid biosynthesis. To date, this is the first report of miRNA identification in G. sinensis and miRNA expression profiles at different developmental stages of G. sinensis pods, which provides a basis for further uncovering the molecular regulation of terpenoid synthesis in G. sinensis and new insights into the role of miRNAs in legumes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Regulation of Metabolites in Forest Plants)

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