Involvement of flavonol synthase/flavanone 3-hydroxylase-like in expression of phytotoxic potential of potato (Solanum sp.)

Glycoalkaloids are Solanum bioactive compounds and are involved in allelopathic interactions. To achieve a better understanding of plant–plant interactions, it is essential to deeply examine the trait distribution in a segregating population. In the present paper, we used transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to recognize the phytotoxic abilities of potato plants originating from a diploid segregating F1 population with particular emphasis on glycoalkaloids in potato groups characterized by a high glycoalkaloid content. In potato F1 individuals, six glycoalkaloids were recognized: solasonine, solamargine, α-solanine, α-chaconine, leptinine I, and leptine II. In the bulk samples characterized by a high total glycoalkaloid content and various phytotoxic potential, high - A’, low - B’ and hormesis - F’, a significant role of the glycoalkaloid composition in the expression of phytotoxic potential was revealed. In particular, leptine II, solasonine and solamargine were present. Based on the RNA-seq analysis of the bulk samples, a flavonol synthase/flavanone 3-hydroxylase-like gene responsible for flavonoid synthesis was upregulated in comparison A’ vs. B’ and A’ vs. F’ (Log2FC=8.30 and 6.40, respectively). The population-level evaluation of phytotoxic potential confirmed a significant negative correlation between total glycoalkaloid content and phytotoxic potential (r=-0.211) but only after correction for total flavonoid content. Examination of potato phytotoxic potential under high glycoalkaloids content.