Association Analysis Between Genotype and Environment: Differentiation Between Cyclocarya paliurus Resources That Accumulate Triterpenoids

Caowen Sun; Xulan Shang; Shengzuo Fang; Wanxia Yang; Yanni Cao; Haifen Ding; Xiaochun Li

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.945897

Association Analysis Between Genotype and Environment: Differentiation Between Cyclocarya paliurus Resources That Accumulate Triterpenoids

Front Plant Sci. 2022 Aug 5:13:945897. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.945897. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Caowen Sun^{1

2}, Xulan Shang^{1

2}, Shengzuo Fang^{1

2}, Wanxia Yang^{1

2}, Yanni Cao¹, Haifen Ding¹, Xiaochun Li¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
² Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.

Abstract

Cyclocarya paliurus is mainly distributed in subtropical areas of China. Its leaves are rich in beneficial triterpenoids that have bioactivities against human diseases, including hyperlipemia, diabetes, and hypertension. In this study, data on the genetic diversity, distributing environment, and triterpenoids of C. paliurus samples were collected from a wide area in China. The data covered 316 C. paliurus germplasms collected from 26 distinct populations. Association analysis between genotype and triterpenoids was carried out to describe triterpenoids accumulation pattern. Based on our analyses, we identified the important trend that genotypes with higher triterpenoid contents belonged to a unique genotype subgroup. The results showed that pterocaryoside B and pterocaryoside A significantly vary among the genotypic subgroups. In addition, the different genotypic subgroups showed distinct geographical distributing areas. These findings provide information about the relationship between genetic and environmental factors and how this affects triterpenoids accumulation. This information will be valuable for targeted breeding and for further germplasm selection of C. paliurus resources.

Keywords: Cyclocarya paliurus; association analysis; genetic resource; genotype; triterpenoids.