WHAT CAN THE METABOLIC PROFILE OF EUGENIA ASTRINGENS AND E. UNIFLORA (MYRTACEAE) SEEDS REVEAL ABOUT THEIR DESICCATION SENSITIVITY?

Guilherme de Almeida Garcia Rodrigues; Christophe Bailly; Neusa Steiner

Paper Title

Authors

Guilherme de Almeida Garcia Rodrigues
Christophe Bailly
Neusa Steiner

Modality

Abstract

Subject area

Plant Physiology

Publishing Date

26/09/2022

Country of Publishing

Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/cbfv2022_registration/516655-what-can-the-metabolic-profile-of-eugenia-astringens-and-e-uniflora-(myrtaceae)-seeds-reveal-about-their-desicca

ISBN

978-65-5941-830-5

Keywords

GC-MS, metabolism, metabolomics, recalcitrant, seed conservation

Summary

Eugenia astringens and E. uniflora (Myrtaceae) are Atlantic Rainforest species that produce desiccation sensitive (DS) seeds. Desiccation may lead to an accumulation of metabolic and mechanical damage, and consequently death of DS seeds. This happens in part due to the insufficient presence of protective molecules. Our study analyzed comparatively the metabolic profiles of E. astringens and E. uniflora seeds and its relationship with water content (WC) threshold. E. astringens and E. uniflora fresh seeds displayed a 100% of germination, but after desiccation for ~175h, WC decreased to 0.17 and 0.41 g H2O g DW-1 and germination to 48 and 65%, respectively. Metabolic profiling of both species showed carbohydrates (72-79%), organic acids (18-24%), amino acids (1.3-2.6%), fatty acids (0.5%) and others (0.3%). In E. uniflora seeds, sucrose was the main carbohydrate, increasing from 67 to 80% of carbohydrates after desiccation. Sucrose is involved in protecting and stabilizing lipid bilayers under desiccation, leading to a slower desiccation of E. uniflora seeds. Pyroglutamic acid was the main amino acid of E. uniflora seeds, increasing from 23 to 61% after desiccation. Similarly, aspartic acid increased from 6 to 10%, but ?-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) decreased from 8 to 4% in E. uniflora seeds. GABA, pyroglutamic and aspartic acids are osmolytes responsible for ROS scavenge. In E. astringens seeds, fructose and glucose accounted for 95% of carbohydrates, before and after desiccation. Fructose and glucose seem more efficient osmoprotectants than sucrose, since E. astringens seeds survived to a lower WC. Homoserine represented 62% of amino acids in E. astringens seeds and only aspartic acid was upregulated after seed desiccation, from 0.8 to 16.5%. Homoserine stimulates the accumulation of methionine, an antioxidant compound. Our results suggest that E. astringens seeds may be more resistant than E. uniflora seeds due their composition, which possibly provided higher protection against desiccation.

Title of the Event: XVIII Brazilian Congress of Plant Physiology and I Ibero-latinoamerican Congress of Plant Biology
City of the Event: Porto Alegre
Title of the Proceedings of the event: Annals of the Brazilian Congress of Plant Physiology and Ibero-latinamerican Congress of Plant Biology
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

RODRIGUES, Guilherme de Almeida Garcia; BAILLY, Christophe; STEINER, Neusa. WHAT CAN THE METABOLIC PROFILE OF EUGENIA ASTRINGENS AND E. UNIFLORA (MYRTACEAE) SEEDS REVEAL ABOUT THEIR DESICCATION SENSITIVITY?.. In: Annals of the Brazilian Congress of Plant Physiology and Ibero-latinamerican Congress of Plant Biology. Anais...Porto Alegre(RS) CEPUCRS, 2022. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/cbfv2022_registration/516655-WHAT-CAN-THE-METABOLIC-PROFILE-OF-EUGENIA-ASTRINGENS-AND-E-UNIFLORA-(MYRTACEAE)-SEEDS-REVEAL-ABOUT-THEIR-DESICCA. Access in: 16/07/2025