Potato glycoalkaloids and metabolites: roles in the plant and in the diet

Potatoes, members of the Solanaceae plant family, serve as major, inexpensive low-fat food sources providing energy (starch), high-quality protein, fiber, and vitamins. Potatoes also produce biologically active secondary metabolites, which may have both adverse and beneficial effects in the diet. These include glycoalkaloids, calystegine alkaloids, protease inhibitors, lectins, phenolic compounds, and chlorophyll. Because glycoalkaloids are reported to be involved in host-plant resistance and to have a variety of adverse as well as beneficial effects in cells, animals, and humans, a need exists to develop a clearer understanding of their roles both in the plant and in the diet. To contribute to this effort, this integrated review presents data on the (a) history of glycoalkaloids; (b) glycoalkaloid content in different parts of the potato plant, in processed potato products, and in wild, transgenic, and organic potatoes; (c) biosynthesis, inheritance, plant molecular biology, and glycoalkaloid-plant phytopathogen relationships; (d) dietary significance with special focus on the chemistry, analysis, and nutritional quality of low-glycoalkaloid potato protein; (e) pharmacology and toxicology of the potato glycoalkaloids comprising alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine and their hydrolysis products (metabolites); (f) anticarcinogenic and other beneficial effects; and (g) possible dietary consequences of concurrent consumption of glycoalkaloids and other biologically active compounds present in fresh and processed potatoes. An enhanced understanding of the multiple and overlapping aspects of glycoalkaloids in the plant and in the diet will benefit producers and consumers of potatoes.     

Common sources and estimated intake of plant sterols in the Spanish diet

Plant sterols (PS) are minor lipid components of plants, which may have potential health benefits, mainly based in their cholesterol-lowering effect. The aim of this study was to determine the composition and content of PS in plant-based foods commonly consumed in Spain and to estimate the PS intake in the Spanish diet. For this purpose, the determination of PS content, using a modern methodology to measure free, esterified, and glycosidic sterol forms, was done. Second, an estimation of the intake of PS, using the Spanish National Food Consumption data, was made. The daily intake per person of PS--campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and stigmastanol--in the Spanish diet was estimated at 276 mg, the largest component being beta-sitosterol (79.7%). Other unknown compounds, tentatively identified as PS, may constitute a considerable potential intake (99 mg). When the daily PS intake among European diets was compared in terms of campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and stigmastanol, the PS intake in the Spanish diet was in the same range of other countries such as Finland (15.7% higher) or The Netherlands (equal). However, some qualitative differences in the PS sources were detected, that is, the predominant brown bread and vegetable fat consumption in the northern diets versus the white bread and vegetable oil consumption in the Spanish diet. These differences may help to provide a link between the consumption of PS and healthy effects of the diet.     

Ageing and the Mediterranean diet: a review of the role of dietary fats

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the relationship between food and health. Concerns have been raised about dietary fats and their relative nutritional advantages or disadvantages. In investigations of the associations between health and fat intake, special emphasis has been placed on the benefits of virgin olive oil for counteracting certain neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. With respect to ageing, accumulating evidence indicates that an improvement in quality of life can be reached by modulation of the extrinsic factors that influence many ageing processes. Of the modifiable factors, nutrition appears to be one of the strongest elements known to influence the rate of ageing as well as the incidence of age-associated diseases such as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative pathologies. This paper reviews the theory of ageing and the role of fatty acids in the mechanisms affecting its evolution. It also confirms that virgin olive oil, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, provides large amounts of stable and not easily oxidizable fatty acids as well as remarkable quantities of powerful antioxidant molecules.     

Estimation of glycoalkaloids as solasodine in Solanum laciniatum.

Solasodine is isolated from Solanum laciniatum leaves by a rapid, one-step procedure which involves extraction and hydrolysis of the glycoalkaloids. The resulting steroidal aglycone is directly estimated by the formation of a colored complex with bromocresol green. The method is applicable to concentrations of 25-125 mug solasodine/7ml.     

Bioactivities of glycoalkaloids and their aglycones from Solanum species

Potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergines are all species of the Solanum genus and contain a vast array of secondary metabolites including calystegine alkaloids, phenolic compounds, lectins, and glycoalkaloids. Glycoalkaloids have been the subject of many literature papers, occur widely in the human diet, and are known to induce toxicity. Therefore, from a food safety perspective further information is required regarding their analysis, toxicity, and bioavailability. This is especially important in crop cultivars derived from wild species to prevent glycoalkaloid-induced toxicity. A comprehensive review of the bioactivity of glycoalkaloids and their aglycones of the Solanum species, particularly focused on comparison of their bioactivities including their anticancer, anticholesterol, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic effects, toxicity, and synergism of action of the principal Solanum glycoalkaloids, correlated to differences of their individual molecular structures is presented.     

Collembola switch diet in presence of plant roots thereby functioning as herbivores

Collembola are abundant and ubiquitous soil decomposers, being particularly active in the rhizosphere of plants where they are assumed to be attracted by high microbial activity and biomass. While feeding on root associated microorganisms or organic matter they may also ingest plant roots, e.g. particularly root hairs and fine roots. Employing stable isotope analysis we investigated Collembola (Protaphorura fimata Gisin) feeding preferences and types of ingested resources. We offered Collembola two resources with distinct isotope signatures: a C4 plant (Zea mays L.) planted in soil mixed with ¹⁵N labelled litter of Lolium perenne L. (C3 plant). We hypothesised that Collembola obtain their nutrients (C and N) from different resources, with their carbon being mainly derived from resources that are closely associated to the plant root, e.g. root exudates, causing enrichment in ¹³C in Collembola tissue, while the incorporated nitrogen originating from litter resources. In contrast to our hypothesis, stable isotope analysis suggests that in absence of plant roots Collembola derived both the incorporated C and N predominantly from litter whereas in presence of plant roots they switched diet and obtained both C and N almost exclusively from plant roots.The results indicate that Collembola in the rhizosphere of plants, being assumed to be mainly decomposers, in fact predominately live on plant resources, presumably fine roots or root hairs, i.e. are herbivorous rather than detritivorous or fungivorous. These findings have major implications on the view how plants respond to decomposers in the rhizosphere.     

Heat stress and plant development: role of sulphur metabolites and management strategies

Temperature plays a crucial role in plants development whereas a sudden rise may cause severe consequences. Heat stress impairs plant growth, photosynthesis, pollen development and reproduction. The plant photosynthetic efficiency is mainly reduced by the over production of reactive oxygen species, denaturation of heat shock proteins and alteration in many enzymes activities. Unlike drought stress, plants have developed a very few mechanisms to encounter heat stress problem. Recently, the use of nutrients such as sulphur has emerged as one of the efficient methods to enhance plant tolerance against high temperature stress. The mechanistic understanding of sulphur-based strategies could be very helpful to sustain plant development and global food supplies in future hotter climates. The present review mainly focuses on (1) high temperature induced changes in plant functions, (2) possible roles of sulphur metabolites in heat stress tolerance and (3) possibilities of using sulphur as a management strategy. Moreover, the review consolidates the future research needs that must focus on (i) heat tolerant germplasm screening; (ii) sulphur dose optimisation, application method and crop growth stages response; (iii) finding of sulphur induced heat tolerance mechanisms and (iv) the use of omic approaches to discover sulphur metabolites role in heat stress tolerance.     

一氧化氮在植物发育及植物–微生物互作中的作用机制研究进展

一氧化氮 (NO) 作为高活性信号分子,是调控植物生长发育的关键因子。NO可提高植物对非生物胁迫及生物胁迫的抗性,增强植物的免疫能力。最新的研究表明,NO在植物根系与微生物的互作过程中发挥着重要作用,NO能够促进植物根系与根瘤菌及丛枝菌根真菌形成共生体,从而提高植物对土壤氮磷养分的获取。NO作为信号物质调控植物对生物胁迫和非生物胁迫抗性的主要机制有:1) NO与活性氧系统互作,调节活性氧的水平,缓解氧化应激反应对植物的伤害;2) NO通过蛋白质的翻译后修饰,对植物免疫及抗逆过程进行调节;3) NO与多种植物激素互作,参与激素对植物生长发育的调节过程。而且NO可促进共生体的形成及发育相关基因表达,抑制免疫基因表达,通过NO与植物球蛋白 (phytoglobin) 的循环维持共生体的氧化还原水平及能量状态,从而促进植物–微生物共生关系。以往关于NO的研究主要集中在前3个方面,有关NO在植物–微生物互作中的作用机制的研究较少,NO参与植物–微生物互作机制的研究亟待加强。揭示NO增强植物抗逆性及其调节根系发育的机制,深入探究NO调控植物–微生物互作的机理,对于提高集约化作物生产体系中养分利用效率和作物生产力具有重要的理论与实践意义。     

Geographical variation of solanidane aglycone glycoalkaloids in the wild potato species Solanum chacoense Bitter

The Colorado Potato Beetle is a serious pest of the cultivated potato. Natural resistance has been found in a few wild species, including Solanum chacoense Bitter, in which the resistance is attributed to the presence of leptine glycoalkaloids. Production and accumulation of these compounds within S. chacoense varies widely and appears to be inherited in a quantitative fashion, but high leptine-producing clones occur rarely. In the present study, 15 different accessions from various locations and altitudes of origin within central to northern Argentina and Paraguay were analyzed for foliar glycoalkaloid (leptine, leptinine, solanine, chaconine) content. The objective was to infer the frequency of leptine production in ecogeographically distinct S. chacoense accessions, and to ascertain any possible association between leptine levels/concentrations and ecogeographical location. Leptines were detected in 8 of the 15 accessions, and the amounts within each accession varied widely. Most of the leptine-containing accessions originated from western Argentina except two in province Córdoba in central Argentina. There was no relationship between elevational level and leptine, but there was a negative trend with total glycoalkaloids (TGA) and elevation, due to solanine and chaconine levels which decreased with increasing elevation. In addition, nine unidentified, putative glycoalkaloids were detected, in very high proportions in some individuals and accessions. This study raises interesting questions about glycoalkaloid distribution, helps provide direction for new avenues of leptine and glycoalkaloid research, and proposes a systematic, ecogeographically based method for bioprospecting genes controlling rare plant secondary compounds.     

转基因（反义ACS和反义Nr）番茄伤流中植物激素的运输＊

以转反义ACS（ACC合成酶）和反义NR（乙烯受体蛋白）基因番茄和普通番茄（Lycopersicon escclentum Mill．）作为试材，通过ELISA（enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay）方法研究了抑制乙烯合成的外源基因转入番茄后，伤流中植物激素的变化。发现转基因番茄和普通番茄在盛花期和盛果期伤流中各种植物激素的含量变化不显著；而到了成熟期伤流中IAA、GA，和CTKs（细胞分裂素）仍然没有显著变化，但转基因番茄伤流中ABA含量与普通番茄相比却显著减少，说明ABA和乙烯对番茄成熟衰老的控制是共同起作用的，乙烯释放量的改变和信号转导途径的抑制都会影响ABA的伤流运输。     

Effect of salt stress on tomato plant and the role of calcium

Abstract

Salinity is one of the serious abiotic stresses that has adverse effects on plant growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on germination and growth parameters of tomato plant as well as the role of Ca²⁺as an ameliorating agent. 100?mM NaCl and two concentrations of calcium (5 and 10?mM) were applied to tomato seeds and seedlings. This study was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a total of six treatments each comprising of three replicates. The application of 100?mM of NaCl delayed the germination time by 27.6%, reduced the seedling length and seedling vigor by 24.33% and germination stress tolerance by 27.6% as compared to control. Salinity also reduced the plant growth (root and shoot length, root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, membrane stability, relative water content and leaf area), whereas the application of calcium mitigated the negative effects of salinity on germination and growth to a greater extent. With increased calcium concentration, growth and germination increased significantly both alone and in the salt-affected plant. 10?mM calcium showed best results and enhanced the promptness index by 20.7%, seedling length and vigor by 15.1% and GSI by 20.7%. It also improved root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, relative water content and leaf area. Similarly, 5?mM calcium also increased plant height and membrane stability index. The present study suggests that application of Ca²⁺ enhanced the growth of tomato plant under saline conditions.     

The soil-protective role of specially-shaped plant roots

Some trees and shrubs which grow on steep slopes, abrupt banks alongside watercourses, or the sides of sunken roads, shape their secondary roots of the first order, and sometimes even the main root, in such a way as to develop in them a knee-like curvature, turning back into the more compact soil. This feature, here referred to as ‘edaphoecotropism’, is considered to be the results of a number of interacting physical of this phenomenon may be cited the response by roots to undesirable extreme topographic conditions of the site—some kind of ‘escape’ by the root into a more favourable environment—and a one-sided provocation of the root's growing portion, which produces variations in the distribution of auxin and thus the peculiar curvature of the root. This ‘edaphoecotropic’ orientation of the main root-branches in trees and shrubs is of importance in the safe anchoring of plants in the soil and, hence, increasing the stability of the earth or other slope or ‘cliff’.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the glycoalkaloids alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine in 12 commercial varieties of Mexican potato

The glycoalkaloid content in 12 commercial varieties of Mexican potatoes was measured by HPLC in both the peel and the flesh of the potato. The principal glycoalkaloids alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine were present in higher concentration in the peel than in the flesh of all varieties. The main alkaloid in the peel of the potatoes was alpha-chaconine and comprised about 65-71% of the total glycoalkaloids. The high concentration of alpha-chaconine in peel, which is more toxic than alpha-solanine, gives more protection to the tuber against predators. The total alkaloids in the peel of Alpha, Juanita, Michoacan, Norte?a, Rosita, and Tollocan varieties were higher than the limit recommended for food safety. However, the peel represents less than 10% of the total tuber in most of the varieties. The total alkaloids contained in the peel of Atzimba, Lopez, Marciana, Montsama, Murca, and Puebla was lower than the limits recommended for food safety. The glycoalkaloid content in the boiled peeled potatoes was less than 9 mg/100 g but in Alpha, Montsama, and Puebla varieties, both glycoalkaloids were absent. According to the results, the consumption of the 12 commercial varieties of Mexican potatoes does not represent any danger to human health.     

The role of tissue culture in preserving threatened and endangered plant species

The impact of human activities on natural ecosystems has become an issue of growing public concern. While not attenuated by the problems of habitat preservation, human activities in certain regions have caused a depletion of many plant species that might otherwise have remained secure in their respective habitats. Several options are available to address this problem. One which has received only minor attention but has great potential for germplasm preservation is tissue culture. Preliminary work with several species of Pediocactus shows great promise for the application of micropropagative technology.     

Acute toxicity of high doses of the glycoalkaloids, alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine, in the Syrian Golden hamster

Sprouted, stressed, or spoiled potato tubers have reportedly led to human acute intoxication, coma, and death when consumed in high amounts. These effects have been attributed to glycoalkaloids (GAs), primarily alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine, naturally present in all potatoes. The level of GAs in potato tubers has previously been shown to increase substantially as a result of improper handling and postharvest storage. A short-term study was performed to investigate the dose-response profile of alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine alone or in combination, administered daily by oral gavage to Syrian Golden hamsters. Daily doses of 100 mg of alpha-solanine [kg body weight (BW)] (-1) induced death in two of four hamsters within 4 days, when administered by gavage to female Syrian hamsters. Doses of 100 mg of alpha-chaconine alone or alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine combined in a ratio of 1:2.5, in doses of 75 or 100 mg (kg BW) (-1), induced death in one of four hamsters within the same period. Animals dosed with alpha-solanine alone or in combination with alpha-chaconine suffered from fluid-filled and dilated small intestines. The GA administration had no effect on acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) or butyryl cholinesterase (BuChE) activity in plasma or brain. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics showed that there was a specific accumulation of alpha-chaconine in the liver tissues. In addition, metabolomics gave direct evidence of glycolytic metabolism of the GA with the beta 1, beta 2, and gamma-GAs detected in the urine and, to a lesser extent, the feces. Doses from 75 mg (kg BW) (-1) of alpha-chaconine, alpha-solanine, or the two compounds combined were potentially lethal within 4-5 days in the Syrian Golden hamster. However, the cause of death in these studies could not be established. No synergistic effects of alpha-solanine combined with alpha-chaconine were evident.     

Invasion success of exotic plants in natural ecosystems: the role of disturbance, plant attributes and freedom from herbivores

Invasion of natural ecosystems by exotic species is a major threat to biodiversity globally. We assessed two alternative (but not exclusive) hypotheses to explain the success of exotic species in urban bushland on low fertility sandstone-derived soils in Sydney, Australia. These were that success of exotic species is promoted by: (1) plant attributes in particular disturbance types; and (2) freedom from herbivores. We tested these at sites subject to different types of disturbance: nutrient and water enrichment (below stormwater outlets), nutrient enrichment (riparian zones of creeks with an urban catchment) and physical disturbance (tracks), and control sites. At each site we estimated percentage cover of all species and surveyed leaves for damage by herbivores. Species were classified as native, non-invasive exotic or invasive exotic. We found that sites without any disturbance did not support exotic plants. Physically disturbed sites on low fertility soils supported only one exotic species, suggesting that nutrient enrichment is a critical prerequisite for exotic species invasion on low fertility soils. Exotic species cover was highest and native species richness most reduced in areas of highest nutrient enrichment. Both invasive exotic and non-invasive exotic species had significantly lower levels of leaf herbivory than native species, implying that release from pests alone cannot account for the success of invasive species. Specific leaf area of invasive exotic species was consistently higher than specific leaf area of non-invasive exotic and native species, regardless of disturbance type. In physically disturbed sites of higher soil fertility, exotic species were small herbs and grasses of long flowering duration and with small unassisted or wind-dispersed seeds. In sites subject to nutrient-enrichment, exotic species were more likely to be climbers, able to propagate vegetatively, and with seeds dispersed by vertebrates. Thus different plant attributes contribute to exotic species success under different disturbance types. The clearest consistent difference we found between invasive exotic and non-invasive exotic species was in specific leaf area, suggesting that large specific leaf area facilitates invasiveness.     

Rhizospheric organic compounds in the soil–microorganism–plant system: their role in iron availability

Poor iron (Fe) availability in soil represents one of the most important limiting factors of agricultural production and is closely linked to physical, chemical and biological processes within the rhizosphere as a result of soil–microorganism–plant interactions. Iron shortage induces several mechanisms in soil organisms, resulting in an enhanced release of inorganic (such as protons) and organic (organic acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, phytosiderophores, siderophores, phenolics and enzymes) compounds to increase the solubility of poorly available Fe pools. However, rhizospheric organic compounds (ROCs) have short half‐lives because of the large microbial activity at the soil–root interface, which might limit their effects on Fe mobility and acquisition. In addition, ROCs also have a selective effect on the microbial community present in the rhizosphere. This review aims therefore to unravel these complex dynamics with the objective of providing an overview of the rhizosphere processes involved in Fe acquisition by soil organisms (plants and microorganisms). In particular, the review provides information on (i) Fe availability in soils, including mineral weathering and Fe mobilization from soil minerals, ligand and element competition and plant‐microbe competition; (ii) microbe–plant interactions, focusing on beneficial microbial communities and their association with plants, which in turn influences plant mineral nutrition; (iii) plant–soil interactions involving the metabolic changes triggered by Fe deficiency and the processes involved in exudate release from roots; and (iv) the influence of agrochemicals commonly used in agricultural production systems on rhizosphere processes related to Fe availability and acquisition by crops.