Metabolomic response of Perilla frutescens leaves, an edible-medicinal herb, to acclimatize magnesium oversupply

PLoS One. 2020 Jul 29;15(7):e0236813. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236813. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

High salt accumulation, resulting from the rampant use of chemical fertilizers in greenhouse cultivation, has deleterious effects on plant growth and crop yield. Herein, we delineated the effects of magnesium (Mg) oversupply on Perilla frutescens leaves, a traditional edible and medicinal herb used in East-Asian countries. Mg oversupply resulted in significantly higher chlorophyll content coupled with lower antioxidant activities and growth, suggesting a direct effect on subtle metabolomes. The relative abundance of bioactive phytochemicals, such as triterpenoids, flavonoids, and cinnamic acids, was lower in the Mg-oversupplied plants than in the control. Correlation analysis between plant phenotypes (plant height, total fresh weight of the shoot, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf antioxidant content) and the altered metabolomes in P. frutescens leaves suggested an acclimatization mechanism to Mg oversupply. In conclusion, P. frutescens preferentially accumulated compatible solutes, i.e., carbohydrates and amino acids, to cope with higher environmental Mg levels, instead of employing secondary and antioxidative metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization / drug effects*
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Magnesium / pharmacology*
  • Metabolomics*
  • Perilla frutescens / drug effects*
  • Perilla frutescens / growth & development
  • Perilla frutescens / metabolism*
  • Perilla frutescens / physiology
  • Phenotype
  • Plant Leaves / drug effects*
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism*
  • Plant Leaves / physiology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Magnesium

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ012523, PJ014977)” and the 2020 RDA Fellowship Program of Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.