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Review
. 2010 Mar 2;11(3):807-57.
doi: 10.3390/ijms11030807.

Managing phenol contents in crop plants by phytochemical farming and breeding-visions and constraints

Dieter Treutter  1
Affiliations
Review

Managing phenol contents in crop plants by phytochemical farming and breeding-visions and constraints

Dieter Treutter. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Two main fields of interest form the background of actual demand for optimized levels of phenolic compounds in crop plants. These are human health and plant resistance to pathogens and to biotic and abiotic stress factors. A survey of agricultural technologies influencing the biosynthesis and accumulation of phenolic compounds in crop plants is presented, including observations on the effects of light, temperature, mineral nutrition, water management, grafting, elevated atmospheric CO(2), growth and differentiation of the plant and application of elicitors, stimulating agents and plant activators. The underlying mechanisms are discussed with respect to carbohydrate availability, trade-offs to competing demands as well as to regulatory elements. Outlines are given for genetic engineering and plant breeding. Constraints and possible physiological feedbacks are considered for successful and sustainable application of agricultural techniques with respect to management of plant phenol profiles and concentrations.

Keywords: agricultural technology; apple; elicitor; flavonoids; grapevine; lettuce; phenylpropanoids; strawberry; stress; tomato.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Multifunctionality of phenolic compounds.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Simplified scheme of the biosynthesis of selected phenolic compounds. Abbreviations: ANR: anthocyanidin reductase, ANS: anthocyanidin synthase, C4H: cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, CHI: chalcone isomerase, CHS: chalcone synthase, 4CL: p-coumarate:CoA ligase, Coum3H: coumaroyl 3-hydroxylase, DFR: dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, F 3’-H: flavonoiod 3’-hydroxylase, FGT: flavonoid glycosyltransferase, FHT: flavanone 3-hydroxylase, FLS: flavonol synthase, FNS: flavone synthase, IFS: isoflavone synthase, LAR: leucoanthocyanidin reductase PAL, phenylalanine ammonia lyase.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Relationship between red coloration of apple skin and taste evaluation (data from [74]).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Development of red pigmentation of apple fruits cv. ‘Red Chief’ (% coloration) ripening under warm day (26 °C) and warm night (22 °C) conditions (A) and under warm day (26 °C) and cool night (11 °C) conditions (B). Data from [94].
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Different l-phenylalanine pools for the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds [141,142].
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Flavonoid biosynthesis in strawberry fruits indicating development related pathways restricted to young and mature fruits, respectively [181]. Note: F3’5’H = favonoid 3’,5’-hydroxylase, FGTs = flavonoid glycosyl transferases, other abbreviations see Figure 2.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Tissue specific levels of phenolic compounds in young apple fruits cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ in May and June. Data from [180].
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Transient alteration of flavonoid biosynthesis in young apple leaves treated with the bioregulator prohexadione-Ca. The newly formed 3-deoxycatechin luteoliflavan and the constitutive intermediary metabolite eriodictyol 7-glucoside accumulate most in the very young leaf no. 1 whereas the subsequent, older leaves at the shoot show weaker response. Data redrawn from [232].
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Phenolic compounds in buckwheat seeds (mg/g dry weight) from a breeding programme using Fagopyrum esculentum (F. esc.) and F. homotropicum (F. hom.) as parental plants with extraordinary contents of the flavonol rutin in interspecific hybrids. Data from [302].
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Effect of nitrogen nutrition on the prohexadione-Ca induced accumulation of 3-deoxycatechin (luteoliflavan). Redrawn from [309].
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Route of targeted pytochemical farming indicating constraints and physiological feed back.
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