Metabolomics of soybean green stem and foliar retention (GSFR) disease using mass spectrometry and molecular networking

• Published in: Rapid communications in mass spectrometry 2020-09, Vol.34 (S3), p.e8655-n/a
• Main Authors: Zanzarin, Daniele Maria, Hernandes, Carolina Parcero, Leme, Luiza Mariano, Silva, Evandro, Porto, Carla, Martin do Prado, Rodolpho, Meyer, Mauricio C., Favoreto, Luciany, Nunes, Estela de Oliveira, Pilau, Eduardo Jorge
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chromatography; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Darkening; Flavonoids; Flowers & plants; Glycine max - metabolism; Glycine max - parasitology; Host-Parasite Interactions; Hydroponics; Inoculation; Ions; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Metabolites; Metabolomics - methods; Nematodes; Plant Diseases - parasitology; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plant Roots - parasitology; Roots; Scientific imaging; Secondary Metabolism; Soybeans; Spectroscopy; Stems; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods; Tylenchida - pathogenicity
• ISSN: 0951-4198; 1097-0231
• DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8655

Rationale The nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi is the causal agent of green stem and foliar retention, a soybean disease recently described in Brazil. This condition can reduce soybean yield by up to 100%. However, little is known about chemical interactions between the plant and pathogen. Therefore, this work aimed to investigate metabolites from healthy soybean roots and from soybean roots that were inoculated with A. besseyi. Methods A. besseyi were multiplied in vitro with Fusarium sp. colonies in Petri dishes for 25 days, and were axenically inoculated into hydroponics healthy soybean plants. The metabolites were extracted from the roots of healthy and A. besseyi‐infected plants 16 days post‐inoculation. These extracts were analyzed using an untargeted metabolomic method with an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization /tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/ESI‐MS/MS) and molecular networking approach. Results Roots from infected plants showed morphological alterations such as shrinkage, darkening, and arching. Similarly, they also showed an increased presence of flavonoids, compared with healthy roots. Compounds such as neobavaisoflavone, glycitin, genistin, and genistein were putatively identified and had greater intensity in inoculated roots. These compounds are linked to the defensive mechanisms in plants against nematodes. Moreover, coumaric acid, also exclusively putatively identified in inoculated roots, shows activity related to inhibition of root growth. Conclusions Liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and molecular networking approaches proved to be a powerful tool for the metabolomic study of GSFR. This study showed metabolomics differences of protective substances in the roots, evidencing a quick response of the plant to the attack of A. besseyi.