Investigating the bHLH transcription factor TSARL1 as marker and regulator of saponin biosynthesis in Chenopodium quinoa.

IF 3.3 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture Pub Date : 2025-06-13 DOI:10.1002/jsfa.14436

Marius Kollmar, Katharina B Böndel, Lukas John, Stefan Arold, Karl Schmid, David Jarvis, Sandra M Schmöckel, Sophie L Otterbach

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is valued for its nutritional benefits and resilience to abiotic stresses. However, its commercial use is limited by bitter-tasting saponins on the seeds, necessitating resource-intensive removal processes.

Results: This study demonstrates a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), G2078C, in the Triterpene Saponin Biosynthesis Activating Regulator Like 1 (TSARL1) gene, which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, as significantly associated with the non-bitter phenotype in quinoa. We have developed a PCR assay to demonstrate the pivotal role of this SNP in distinguishing non-bitter from bitter quinoa varieties, thereby providing a practical tool for breeding and quality control. Our findings confirm the SNP's critical function in downregulating the saponin biosynthesis pathway, through quantitative PCR analyses of TSARL1, TSARL2, BAS1, CYP716A78 and CYP716A79. Furthermore, protein modelling of TSARL1 validates its responsibility for the bitter phenotype. Investigating early plant development revealed delayed seedling emergence of bitter quinoa and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the bitter allele as the ancestral trait of quinoa.

Conclusion: Demonstrating a strong correlation between the non-bitter phenotype and the G2078C SNP, our study not only validates the SNP's significance but also introduces an efficient method for its detection. This advancement promises to streamline the breeding of non-bitter quinoa varieties, enhancing the crop's palatability and reducing the need for postharvest processing. Our approach offers significant implications for the agricultural production and nutritional exploitation of quinoa, aligning with efforts to meet global food security and nutritional needs. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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研究bHLH转录因子TSARL1在藜麦皂苷生物合成中的标记和调控作用。

背景：藜麦（Chenopodium Quinoa）因其营养价值和抗非生物胁迫能力而受到重视。然而，它的商业用途受到种子上苦味皂苷的限制，需要资源密集型的去除过程。结果：本研究发现，编码基本螺旋-环-螺旋（bHLH）转录因子的三萜皂苷生物合成激活调节因子样1 （TSARL1）基因的单核苷酸多态性（G2078C）与藜麦的无苦表型显著相关。我们已经开发了一种PCR方法来证明该SNP在区分非苦藜麦和苦藜麦品种中的关键作用，从而为育种和质量控制提供了实用的工具。我们的研究结果通过对TSARL1、TSARL2、BAS1、CYP716A78和CYP716A79的定量PCR分析，证实了该SNP在下调皂苷生物合成途径中的关键作用。此外，TSARL1的蛋白质模型验证了它对苦味表型的责任。通过对藜麦早期植株发育的研究，发现苦藜麦的出苗延迟，系统发育分析证实苦等位基因是藜麦的祖先性状。结论：非苦味表型与G2078C SNP之间存在较强的相关性，不仅验证了该SNP的显著性，而且引入了一种高效的检测方法。这一进展有望简化无苦藜麦品种的育种，提高作物的适口性，减少采后加工的需要。我们的方法对藜麦的农业生产和营养开发具有重要意义，与满足全球粮食安全和营养需求的努力相一致。©2025作者。约翰威利父子有限公司代表化学工业协会出版的《食品与农业科学杂志》。

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来源期刊

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 工程技术-农业综合

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

4.90%

发文量

634

审稿时长

3.1 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture publishes peer-reviewed original research, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives and spotlights in these areas, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies at the agriculture/ food interface. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join and current Members include consumers, business people, environmentalists, industrialists, farmers, and researchers. The Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials, chemicals, environmental science and safety. As well as organising educational events, SCI awards a number of prestigious honours and scholarships each year, publishes peer-reviewed journals, and provides Members with news from their sectors in the respected magazine, Chemistry & Industry . Originally established in London in 1881 and in New York in 1894, SCI is a registered charity with Members in over 70 countries.