Upregulation of isoflavonoids and soluble proteins in edible legumes by light and fungal elicitor treatments.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, our working hypothesis was that continuous light and fungal elicitation treatment of legume seedlings would lead to enhanced levels of isoflavonoids and soluble proteins.


RESULTS
Based on short-term light and dark treatments, isoflavonoid (genistein, genistin, daidzein, and daidzin) and soluble protein concentrations were significantly upregulated in the "light" environment compared to the "dark" environment for all edible legume species (kudzu vine, soybean, garbanzo bean, fava bean, mung bean, adzuki bean) that were tested. Kudzu seedlings showed the highest levels of both isoflavonoids and soluble proteins after light-elicited upregulation compared to the other legumes analyzed. All legumes showed less up-regulation of isoflavonoid synthesis when treated with Phytophtora sojae fungal elicitor. Oligosaccharide fungal elicitor caused no such upregulation.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in this study show that edible legume seedlings have enhanced levels of isoflavonoids and soluble proteins when they are grown in the light compared to the conventional practice of growing such seedlings in the dark. This will clearly result in significant improvement in their nutritive and medicinal value.
Lal
Ashish
A
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA.
Warber
Sara
S
Kirakosyan
Ara
A
Kaufman
Peter B
PB
Duke
James A
JA
D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007529:Isoflavones; D010940:Plant Proteins