AUTHOR=Chen Mengjiao , Chang Cuifang , Li Hui , Huang Lin , Zhou Zongshun , Zhu Jingle , Liu Dan TITLE=Metabolome analysis reveals flavonoid changes during the leaf color transition in Populus × euramericana ‘Zhonghuahongye’ JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1162893 DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1162893 ISSN=1664-462X ABSTRACT=Introduction

To investigate the mechanism of leaf color change at different stages in Populus × euramericana ‘Zhonghuahongye’ (‘Zhonghong’ poplar).

Methods

Leaf color phenotypes were determined and a metabolomic analysis was performed on leaves at three stages (R1, R2 and R3).

Results

The a*, C* and chromatic light values of the leaves decreased by 108.91%, 52.08% and 113.34%, while the brightness L values and chromatic b* values gradually increased by 36.01% and 13.94%, respectively. In the differential metabolite assay, 81 differentially expressed metabolites were detected in the R1 vs. R3 comparison, 45 were detected in the R1 vs. R2 comparison, and 75 were detected in the R2 vs. R3 comparison. Ten metabolites showed significant differences in all comparisons, which were mostly flavonoid metabolites. The metabolites that were upregulated in the three periods were cyanidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, delphinidin, and gallocatechin, with flavonoid metabolites accounting for the largest proportion and malvidin 3- O-galactoside as the primary downregulated metabolite. The color shift of red leaves from a bright purplish red to a brownish green was associated with the downregulation of malvidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin, naringenin, and dihydromyricetin.

Discussion

Here, we analyzed the expression of flavonoid metabolites in the leaves of ‘Zhonghong’ poplar at three stages and identified key metabolites closely related to leaf color change, providing an important genetic basis for the genetic improvement of this cultivar.