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Artemisinin production and precursor ratio in full grown Artemisia annua L. plants subjected to external stress

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Abstract

The concentration of the lifesaving antimalarial compound artemisinin (AN) in cultivated Artemisia annua (A. annua) plants is relatively low, and thus research in improving the content is important. In the present study, external stress was applied to adult plants of A. annua and the effect was examined on the concentrations of AN and its immediate precursors in leaves, and these concentrations were related to densities and sizes of the glandular trichomes (GT). Plants were stress treated weekly five times by sandblasting or spraying with salicylic acid, chitosan oligosaccharide, H2O2, and NaCl solutions. Contents of AN-related compounds (AN-c) were analysed in leaf samples from an upper and a lower position of the plants, and GT were quantified and measured. In lower leaves, several stress treatments had significant negative effects on concentrations of AN-c, whereas the ratios between compounds showed an increased conversion to AN. In the upper leaves, no changes were observed compared to controls. Linear relations were found between the concentrations of metabolites and the density of GT in both upper and lower leaves, and size of GT in lower leaves. Results suggested that older and younger leaves may respond differently to applied stress. A part of the plants were infected by powdery mildew, and this caused significantly different compositions of the AN-c, compared to uninfected plants. In conclusion, changes in concentrations of AN-c seemed largely to be related to changes in GT densities and sizes.

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Abbreviations

AN:

Artemisinin

DHAA:

Dihydroartemisinic acid

AA:

Artemisinic acid

DHAAA:

Dihydroartemisinic aldehyde

AAA:

Artemisinic aldehyde

DHAAOH:

Dihydroartemisinic alcohol

AAOH:

Artemisinic alcohol

AN-c:

Artemisinin-related compounds, including AN

GT:

Glandular trichomes

A. annua :

Artemisia annua

SA:

Salicylic acid

COS:

Chitosan oligosaccharide

SB:

Sandblasting

SM:

Secondary metabolites

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank field technicians Astrid Bergman, Birthe Flyger and Jens Barfod for assisting in maintaining and sampling the experimental plants. We also acknowledge the valuable input to the microscopy techniques by laboratory technician Annette S. Brandsholm. Dr. Willemien Lommen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, and the members of the Artemisia Project Group, Denmark have been highly valued sparing partners. This work was supported by The Strategic Research Council, Denmark [FI. 2101-08-0048].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Kirstinebjergvej 10, 5792, Årslev, Denmark

    Anders Kjær, Kai Grevsen & Martin Jensen

  2. Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Francel Verstappen & Harro Bouwmeester

  3. Institute of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Allé 1, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Elise Ivarsen, Xavier Fretté & Lars P. Christensen

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  1. Anders Kjær
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  2. Francel Verstappen
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Correspondence to Anders Kjær.

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Kjær, A., Verstappen, F., Bouwmeester, H. et al. Artemisinin production and precursor ratio in full grown Artemisia annua L. plants subjected to external stress. Planta 237, 955–966 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-012-1811-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-012-1811-y

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