Profiles of phenolics and their synthetic pathways in Asparagus officinalis L.

Highlights

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  204 phenolics were detected with different accumulation in roots, stems and flowering twigs of both purple and green asparagus influences their respective nutritional values and environmental adaption.

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  A complete synthetic pathway of phenols and flavonoids with 97 synthetic and 17 regulatory gene in transcriptional isoforms level was proposed.

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  Alternative splicing and fusion of phenolic synthesis and regulatory genes involved in differential accumulation of phenolic substances in various organs of asparagus were found.

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  MYB_9 and bHLH_2/7 were predicted as major regulatory players for anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple asparagus.

Abstract

The synthetic pathways of some phenolics compounds in asparagus have been reported, however, the diversified phenolics compounds including their modification and transcription regulation remains unknown. Thus, multi-omics strategies were applied to detect the phenolics profiles, contents, and screen the key genes for phenolics biosynthesis and regulation in asparagus. A total of 437 compounds, among which 204 phenolics including 105 flavonoids and 82 phenolic acids were detected with fluctuated concentrations in roots (Rs), spears (Ss) and flowering twigs (Fs) of the both green and purple cultivars. Based on the detected phenolics profiles and contents correlated to the gene expressions of screened synthetic enzymes and regulatory TFs, a full phenolics synthetic pathway of asparagus was proposed for the first time, essential for future breeding of asparagus and scaled healthy phenolics production using synthetic biological strategies.