Metabolite profiling of leaves of three Ranunculus species

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Plants ability to survive oxygen deficiency is associated with the presence of various adaptations, majority of which are mediated by significant changes of metabolism. These alterations allow resistant wetland plants to grow even in an oxygen-depleted environment. AIM: To compare metabolic profiles of the leaves of the wetland species Ranunculus lingua, R. repens and R. sceleratus, and the mesophyte species R. acris growing in their natural habitat in order to identify the most characteristic metabolic traits of hypoxia-resistant plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Metabolite profiling was performed by GC-MS. Statistical analysis of metabolomics data was processed using R 4.3.1 Beagle Scouts. RESULTS: The resulting profile included 360 compounds. 74 of these were identified and 114 compounds were determined to a class. Sugars (114) were the most widely represented in the obtained profiles. 10 amino and 23 carboxylic acids, lipids and phenolic compounds have been identified. Significant differences were revealed between the profiles of leaf metabolomes of all tested species, which were clustered according to phylogenetic relation. The hydrophytic R. sceleratus, growing under submergence, showed the most unique metabolome, in which the level of sugars was reduced and intermediates of anaerobic metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and alternative pathways of NAD(P)H reoxidation were accumulated. The profile of mesophytic R. acris was markedly different by reduced levels of amino acids, fatty acids and sterols. The metabolite profiles of waterlogged hydrophytes R. lingua and R. repens occupied an intermediate position. CONCLUSIONS: The identified differences of metabolomes of Ranunculus species are due to genetic determinants (life-form and adaptation strategy), ecological niche (biotope) and direct impact of a stressor (flooding).