HOW DO DEVELOPMENTAL AND DROUGHT FACTORS AFFECT POLYPHENOLS OF GOJI (LYCIUM BARBARUM) LEAVES AND BERRIES ?
Résumé
Goji berries (Lycium barbarum, L. chinense and L. ruthenicum, perennial species from the
Solanaceae family) are traditionally eaten in Asia for their high nutritional value [1]. Although
goji consumption is increasingly growing in Europe, there is no significant field production or
research program on this plant. Thus, the ecophysiological and genetic determinisms of the
organoleptic and nutritional quality of goji berries remain unexplored. Moreover, it is unclear
how yield components and berry quality traits may be affected by agricultural practices or
abiotic stresses, yet Lycium is reputed to be drought-tolerant.
To gain further knowledge on the mechanisms underlying goji nutritional value and drought
tolerance, both untargeted and targeted metabolite analyses were performed by UPLC-ESIQTOF
or UPLC-DAD-ESI-TQ on leaves and berries of Lycium barbarum accessions growing
under well-watered (soil water potential of -0.1 MPa) or water stress conditions (soil water
potential of - 0.5 MPa).
The dataset included 46 phenolic compounds, half of which were identified with a level 1
confidence [2] by comparing their retention time, absorbance spectra and MS/MS data with
authentic standards. The water deficit applied during the reproductive period affected plant
growth and carbon allocation. A significant reduction of leaf fresh and dry biomass was
reported for all accessions. In addition, the plants under water deficit decreased fruit
production. Interestingly, the soil water deficit modified the fruit dry matter's composition. The
fruits from ‘FPW07’ concentrated more glucose with the declining of the soil water potential. In
addition, the soil water deficit decreased quercetin and phenolic acids in Lycium accessions.
We have collected a reference dataset for key physiological traits that were not previously
documented in Lycium, and characterized their response to drought. These data help to gain
knowledge on Lycium physiology and development.
[1] Amagase H. & Farnsworth N.R., Food Res. Int., 44, 1702-1717, 2011.
[2] Schymanski E.L., Jeon J., Gulde R., Fenner K., Ruff M., Singer H. P. & Hollender J., Environ. Sci.
Technol., 48, 2097-2098, 2014.