Study of the correlation between endophyte abundances and metabolite levels in different tissue parts of cultivated and wild Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst based on microbiome analysis and metabolomics...

In this study, microbiome analysis and metabolomics were used to analyze the diversity of endophytes in the root and leaf tissues of cultivated and wild A. euchroma and their correlations with metabolites. The results revealed that the diversity of endophytes in A. euchroma was different from that in wild A. euchroma and that there was tissue specificity among different tissues. Species composition analysis revealed that the dominant endophytic fungi belonged to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, and the dominant endophytic bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria. A total of 248 metabolites, including quinones, flavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, sugars, amino acids, coumarins, sterols, terpenoids, polyphenols, fatty ketones and their derivatives, were identified in positive ion mode via LCMSMS. According to their different growth patterns and associated tissue parts, 9 differentially abundant metabolites were screened between AEZL and AEYL, 6 differentially abundant metabolites were screened between AEZR and AEYR, and 104 differentially abundant metabolites were screened between AEZR and AEZL. Eighty-two differentially abundant metabolites were screened between AEYR and AEYL. The contents of 8 naphthoquinones in AEZR and AEYR were determined via HPLC. The contents of bate,batedimethylacrylylakanin in wild A. euchroma were greater than those in cultivated A. euchroma. Correlation analysis revealed that the dominant endophytes in the 4 groups were significantly correlated with a variety of metabolites, and the 8 naphthoquinones in root tissue were also significantly correlated with the dominant endophytes.