Metabolic changes induced by manganese in chamomile.

Area of Science:

• Plant Physiology
• Environmental Toxicology
• Phytochemistry

Background:

• Manganese (Mn) is essential but toxic at high concentrations.
• Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a valuable medicinal plant.
• Understanding Mn toxicity mechanisms is crucial for agriculture and environmental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate Mn uptake and toxicity in chamomile.
• Analyze changes in phenolic metabolites under different Mn exposure conditions.
• Compare Mn effects in soil vs. hydroponic cultures and diploid vs. tetraploid plants.

Main Methods:

• Chamomile grown in soil (1000 μM Mn²⁺) and hydroponics (100, 1000 μM Mn²⁺).
• Assessed growth, oxidative stress markers (ROS, lipid peroxidation), and key metabolites (thiols, ascorbic acid, phenols).
• Quantified Mn content, bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and translocation factor (TF).

Main Results:

• Soil Mn excess reduced growth and induced oxidative stress, depleting thiols and ascorbic acid.
• Phenolic acids were generally depleted in soil-grown plants but some were stimulated in hydroponics.
• Hydroponically grown tetraploid chamomile showed lower Mn accumulation than diploids, with distinct phenolic acid responses.

Conclusions:

• Excessive Mn accumulation negatively impacts chamomile growth and phenolic metabolism.
• Hydroponic culture and tetraploidy influence Mn uptake and metabolic responses.
• Results provide insights into Mn phytotoxicity and metabolic alterations in chamomile.