Labodé Hospice Naitchede1, Aggrey Bernard Nyende2, Steven Runo3. 1. Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Pan African University, Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, 00200, Kenya. nahosimo12@gmail.com. 2. Department of Horticulture and Food Security, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, 00200, Kenya. 3. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University (K.U.), P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is a widely cultivated food and medicinal plant native to the world's subtropics and tropics. Constraints affecting cultivation of Bitter melon affect productivity of β-carotene. Knowing the mechanism that controls the transcription of the β-carotene biosynthesis genes in Bitter melon will be of great value in improving the yield of this important metabolite. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expressions of β-carotene biosynthetic genes such as Phytoene Desaturase (PDS) and Phytoene Synthase (PSY) were evaluated in Bitter melon accessions 'GBK027049', 'NS1026', 'Mahy-ventura', '453B' and 'Sibuka532'. Transcript expression level analysis of PSY and PDS, and amount of β-carotene in leaf, stem, and fruit, were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Root transcript expression was used as a negative control for determining relative fold change in other tissues. Expression of PSY in fruit (6 to 27-fold compared to the control) was higher than in the other organs for all accessions. This was also the case of PDS expression (10 to 29-fold compared to the control). Leaves had the highest β-carotene concentration (17.92-45.35 µg∙g-1); there was no difference between stems (5.67-12.75 µg∙g-1) and fruit (6.18-12.53 µg∙g-1). The highest β-carotene content was in accessions 'GBK027049' (12.53-45.35 µg∙g-1) and '453B' (6.18-32.09 µg∙g-1). The PSY and PDS expressions were positively correlated with amount of β-carotene in leaves, stems, and fruits. CONCLUSION: Bitter melon leaves, especially those of 'GBK027049' and '453B' accessions, are an alternative to alleviate the β-carotene deficiencies in the world and especially in Africa.
BACKGROUND: Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is a widely cultivated food and medicinal plant native to the world's subtropics and tropics. Constraints affecting cultivation of Bitter melon affect productivity of β-carotene. Knowing the mechanism that controls the transcription of the β-carotene biosynthesis genes in Bitter melon will be of great value in improving the yield of this important metabolite. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expressions of β-carotene biosynthetic genes such as Phytoene Desaturase (PDS) and Phytoene Synthase (PSY) were evaluated in Bitter melon accessions 'GBK027049', 'NS1026', 'Mahy-ventura', '453B' and 'Sibuka532'. Transcript expression level analysis of PSY and PDS, and amount of β-carotene in leaf, stem, and fruit, were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Root transcript expression was used as a negative control for determining relative fold change in other tissues. Expression of PSY in fruit (6 to 27-fold compared to the control) was higher than in the other organs for all accessions. This was also the case of PDS expression (10 to 29-fold compared to the control). Leaves had the highest β-carotene concentration (17.92-45.35 µg∙g-1); there was no difference between stems (5.67-12.75 µg∙g-1) and fruit (6.18-12.53 µg∙g-1). The highest β-carotene content was in accessions 'GBK027049' (12.53-45.35 µg∙g-1) and '453B' (6.18-32.09 µg∙g-1). The PSY and PDS expressions were positively correlated with amount of β-carotene in leaves, stems, and fruits. CONCLUSION: Bitter melon leaves, especially those of 'GBK027049' and '453B' accessions, are an alternative to alleviate the β-carotene deficiencies in the world and especially in Africa.
Authors: Do Manh Cuong; Jin Jeon; Abubaker M A Morgan; Changsoo Kim; Jae Kwang Kim; Sook Young Lee; Sang Un Park Journal: J Agric Food Chem Date: 2017-08-14 Impact factor: 5.279