Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling of Chicory Roots Provide Insights Into Laticifer Development and Specialized...

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Metabolomics
• Transcriptomics

Background:

• Chicory roots are a source of inulin, a dietary fiber, and sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) with biological activities.
• Understanding metabolic compartmentalization and laticifer development in chicory is crucial for its agricultural and medicinal applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular basis of laticifer development and metabolic compartmentalization in chicory roots.
• To identify the distribution and biosynthesis pathways of inulin and STLs within different chicory root tissues.

Main Methods:

• Metabolomics and transcriptomics profiling of distinct chicory root tissues.
• Utilized Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) for feature identification.
• Analyzed phytohormone levels and gene expression related to STL and inulin metabolism.

Main Results:

• Identified 21,437 features, with 135 differentially abundant between cell types.
• Major STLs were found to accumulate primarily in the latex, with biosynthesis compartmentalized across tissues.
• Jasmonate signaling was implicated in laticifer development, and inulin accumulation was mainly outside laticifers.

Conclusions:

• Chicory root metabolism, including STL and inulin biosynthesis, is highly compartmentalized.
• Jasmonate signaling plays a key role in laticifer differentiation.
• The study provides a valuable resource for understanding chicory root biology, including latex production and fiber synthesis.