Effect of elicitor spray at different reproductive stages on saponin content of soybean

Saponin Biosynthesis in Pulses

Pulses are a group of leguminous crops that are harvested solely for their dry seeds. As the demand for plant-based proteins grows, pulses are becoming important food crops worldwide. In addition to being a rich source of nutrients, pulses also contain saponins that are traditionally considered anti-nutrients, and impart bitterness and astringency. Saponins are plant secondary metabolites with great structural and functional diversity. Given their diverse functional properties and biological activities, both undesirable and beneficial, saponins have received growing attention. It can be expected that redirecting metabolic fluxes to control the saponin levels and produce desired saponins would be an effective approach to improve the nutritional and sensory quality of the pulses. However, little effort has been made toward understanding saponin biosynthesis in pulses, and, thus there exist sizable knowledge gaps regarding its pathway and regulatory network. In this paper, we summarize the research progress made on saponin biosynthesis in pulses. Additionally, phylogenetic relationships of putative biosynthetic enzymes among multiple pulse species provide a glimpse of the evolutionary routes and functional diversification of saponin biosynthetic enzymes. The review will help us to advance our understanding of saponin biosynthesis and aid in the development of molecular and biotechnological tools for the systematic optimization of metabolic fluxes, in order to produce the desired saponins in pulses.

Bridging the Gaps between Plant and Human Health: A Systematic Review of Soyasaponins

Saponins, prominent secondary plant metabolites, are recognized for their roles in plant defense and medicinal benefits. Soyasaponins, commonly derived from legumes, are a class of triterpenoid saponins that demonstrate significant potential for plant and human health applications. Previous research and reviews largely emphasize human health effects of soyasaponins. However, the biological effects of soyasaponins and their implications for plants in the context of human health have not been well-discussed. This review provides comprehensive discussions on the biological roles of soyasaponins in plant defense and rhizosphere microbial interactions; biosynthetic regulation and compound production; immunological effects and potential for therapeutics; and soyasaponin acquisition attributed to processing effects, bioavailability, and biotransformation processes based on recent soyasaponin research. Given the multifaceted biological effects elicited by soyasaponins, further research warrants an integrated approach to understand molecular mechanisms of regulations in their production as well as their applications in plant and human health.

Changes in the levels of off-flavor generation in soybean through biotic elicitor treatments

The nutritional benefits of soybean remain underutilized as the off-flavor present in it limits the consumption and acceptability among people. The aim of the present study was to unveil the effect of the phytohormones methyl jasmonate (MJ: 0, 50 μM, 1 mM, and 15 mM) and salicylic acid (SA: 0, 50 μM, 0.1 mM, and 10 mM) as elicitors on two contrasting off-flavor soybean varieties at different growth stages (1, bloom; 2, pod development; 3, seed development). The effects of two elicitors varied widely and were found to be dose dependent and growth stage independent. SA reduces the lipoxygenase (LOX) and hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) activity, which in turn resulted in reduction in the TBA number and carbonyl value in contrast to MJ. SA 0.1 mM is the most effective dose in reduction of off-flavor determining parameters and protein oxidation, and it reduces the LOX and HPL activity by 2.3- and 2.4-fold, respectively in "high off-flavor" cultivar 'Bragg' compared to "low off-flavor" cultivar 'DS 2706' which showed 1.4- and 2.1-fold, respectively. This reduction in protein oxidation is also supported by enhanced content of antioxidant enzymes. Thus, phytohormone SA can be used in reduction of off-flavor generation, more effectively than MJ treatments, in soybean.

Crop management, genotypes, and environmental factors affect soyasaponin B concentration in soybean

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds contain soyasaponin B, which has putative health benefits. Studies were conducted in multiple environments in Quebec, Canada to determine the effects of genotypes, environments, and seeding dates on soyasaponin B concentration in mature seeds. A growth chamber study was also conducted to determine the impact of high air temperature imposed at specific growth development stages on soyasaponin B in soybeans. Concentrations of individual and total soyasaponin B were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Genotype and environment main effects were the main determinants of soyasaponin B concentration in soybean, genotype × environment interactions accounting for less than 5% of the variation for all soyasaponin. Ranking of 20 early maturing soybean genotypes was thus relatively consistent across four environments, total concentration varying between 2.31 and 6.59 μmol g(-1). Seeding date consistently impacted soyasaponin B concentrations, early seeding date resulting in the highest concentrations. There was an 11% difference in total soyasaponin B concentration of soybeans seeded in mid-May compared to that in late-June. The response to high air temperature was complex and cultivar specific. High temperature stress restricted to the seed filling stages increased total soyasaponin B concentration in one cultivar by 28% when compared to that in control nonstressed plants; however, in another cultivar high temperature applied during all growth stages reduced total concentration by 27%. Results from the present study thus demonstrate that environmental factors and crop management both impact soyasaponin B concentration in soybeans.

Agriculture and bioactives: achieving both crop yield and phytochemicals

Plants are fundamental elements of the human diet, either as direct sources of nutrients or indirectly as feed for animals. During the past few years, the main goal of agriculture has been to increase yield in order to provide the food that is needed by a growing world population. As important as yield, but commonly forgotten in conventional agriculture, is to keep and, if it is possible, to increase the phytochemical content due to their health implications. Nowadays, it is necessary to go beyond this, reconciling yield and phytochemicals that, at first glance, might seem in conflict. This can be accomplished through reviewing food requirements, plant consumption with health implications, and farming methods. The aim of this work is to show how both yield and phytochemicals converge into a new vision of agricultural management in a framework of integrated agricultural practices.

Enhancement of folate content and its stability using food grade elicitors in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Folate (vitamin B₉) content was evaluated in 10 varieties of coriander with the aim of enhancing its concentration and stability, because of three reasons: 1) coriander is among a few widely used greens in the world and suits many cuisines, 2) folate deficiency is prevalent in developing countries causing anaemia, infant mortality and neural tube closure defects, and 3) natural folate is preferred due to doubts about health risks associated with the synthetic form. In C. sativum, the highest folate content of 1,577 μg/100 g DW was found in var. GS4 Multicut foliage of mature plants (marketable stage) with an insignificantly higher content (1,599.74 μg/100 g DW) at flowering, which is a stage not preferred in markets. In callus cultures treated with plant growth regulators (GRs) (6-benzylaminopurine, kinetin and abscisic acid) substantial increase in folate occurred after 6 h, whereas elicitors (methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) caused rapid 2-fold increase of folate, particularly in response to salicylic acid. Based on these observations, foliar applications were done for in vivo plants, where salicylic acid (250 μM, 24 h) also enhanced folate level by 2-folds (3,112.33 μg/100 g DW), although the content varied with diurnal rhythms. Stability of folates in treated coriander foliage was 10 % higher than in untreated foliage when stored at 25 °C and 4 °C. This study has established for the first time that coriander foliage is rich in folates, which can be doubled by elicitation and impart 10 % more stability than control during processing and storage.