Metabolite profile comparison of a graft chimera 'Hongrou Huyou' (Citrus changshan-huyou + Citrus unshiu) and its two donor plants

• Published in: BMC plant biology Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 582
• Main Authors: Zhang, Min, Jing, Luyang, Wu, Qun, Zhu, Kaijie, Ke, Fuzhi, Xu, Jianguo, Zhao, Siqing, Wang, Gang, Zhang, Chi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 26.12.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Allelochemicals; Analysis; Carotenoids; Chimera - genetics; Chimera - metabolism; Chimeras; Citric acid; Citrus; Citrus - genetics; Citrus - metabolism; Citrus changshan-huyou; Citrus fruits; Citrus unshiu; Composition; Cultivars; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Genotypes; Germacrene; Grafting; Heredity; Juices; Mandarins; Metabolites; Metabolome; Monosaccharides; Morphology; Mutation; Organic acids; Organic chemistry; Periclinal chimera; Phenotypes; Plant breeding; Plant metabolites; Principal components analysis; Scientific equipment industry; Sorbose; Statistical analysis; Tissues; Violaxanthin; Volatile compounds; Volatile hydrocarbons; Volatiles; Woody plants; United States; Citrus; Carotenoids; Metabolites; Volatiles; Periclinal chimera
• ISSN: 1471-2229; 1471-2229
• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-2173-4

Chimeras synthesized artificially by grafting are crucial to the breeding of perennial woody plants. 'Hongrou Huyou' (Citrus changshan-huyou + Citrus unshiu) is a new graft chimera originating from the junction where a Citrus changshan-huyou ("C") scion was top-grafted onto a stock Satsuma mandarin 'Owari' (C. unshiu, "O"). The chimera was named OCC because the cell layer constitutions were O for Layer 1(L1) and C for L2 and L3. In this study, profiles of primary metabolites, volatiles and carotenoids derived from different tissues in OCC and the two donors were investigated, with the aim of determining the relationship between the layer donors and metabolites. The comparison of the metabolite profiles showed that the amount and composition of metabolites were different between the peels and the juice sacs, as well as between OCC and each of the two donors. The absence or presence of specific metabolites (such as the carotenoids violaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin, the volatile hydrocarbon germacrene D, and the primary metabolites citric acid and sorbose) in each tissue was identified in the three phenotypes. According to principal component analysis (PCA), overall, the metabolites in the peel of the chimera were derived from donor C, whereas those in the juice sac of the chimera came from donor O. The profiles of primary metabolites, volatiles and carotenoids derived from the peels and juice sacs of OCC and the two donors were systematically compared. The content and composition of metabolites were different between the tissues and between OCC and the each of the two donors. A clear donor dominant pattern of metabolite inheritance was observed in the different tissues of OCC and was basically consistent with the layer origin; the peel of the chimera was derived from C, and the juice sacs of the chimera came from O. These profiles provide potential chemical markers for genotype differentiation, citrus breeding assessment, and donor selection during artificial chimera synthesis.