AUTHOR=He Zhigui , Wang Yanfeng , Yan Yan , Qin Shaowei , He Huan , Mao Renjun , Liang Zongsuo 

TITLE=Dynamic analysis of physiological indices and transcriptome profiling revealing the mechanisms of the allelopathic effects of phenolic acids on Pinellia ternata

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1039507

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.1039507

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Pinellia ternata</italic> (Thunb.) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine with high medicinal value, but its culture is strongly hindered by the continuous cropping obstacles (CCO) which are tightly associated with allelopathic effects. Deciphering the response mechanisms of <italic>P. ternata</italic> to allelochemicals is critical for overcoming the CCO. Here, we elucidate the response of <italic>P. ternata</italic> to phenolic acids treatment <italic>via</italic> physiological indices, cellular approaches, and transcriptome analysis. Phenolic acids showed a significant effect on the growth of <italic>P. ternata</italic> seedlings, similar to the phenotype of continuous cropping. Cellular analysis demonstrated that phenolic acids remarkably induced root cell death. Physiological analysis revealed that phenolic acids induced the overaccumulated of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and <inline-formula><mml:math display="inline" id="im1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn><mml:mo>−</mml:mo></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> in root cells. However, two exogenous antioxidants (L-ascorbic acid and β-gentiobiose) aid in the scavenging of over-accumulated H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and <inline-formula><mml:math display="inline" id="im2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn><mml:mo>−</mml:mo></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> by promoting the antioxidant enzyme activity such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT). Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the cell wall degeneration and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism were upregulated by phenolic acid treatment. In addition, downregulated DEGs involved in sucrose and starch metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways decreased the key metabolites contents. Taken together, phenolic acids caused root cell death by inducing the overaccumulation of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and <inline-formula><mml:math display="inline" id="im3" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn><mml:mo>−</mml:mo></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula>, and L-ascorbic acid and β-gentiobiose effectively alleviated ROS stress. The present study elucidates the underlying mechanism of the allelopathic effect of phenolic acids, offers valuable information for further understanding the mechanism of CCO, and could contribute to improving guidance for further <italic>P. ternata</italic> production.</p>