title: Root colonization by symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increases sesquiterpenic acid concentrations in Valeriana officinalis L.
abstract: In some medicinal plants a specific plant-fungus association, known as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, increases the levels of secondary plant metabolites and/or plant growth. In this study, the effects of three different AM treatments on biomass and sesquiterpenic acid concentrations in two IN VITRO propagated genotypes of valerian ( VALERIANA OFFICINALIS L., Valerianaceae) were investigated. Valerenic, acetoxyvalerenic and hydroxyvalerenic acid levels were analyzed in the rhizome and in two root fractions. Two of the AM treatments significantly increased the levels of sesquiterpenic acids in the underground parts of valerian. These treatments, however, influenced the biomass of rhizomes and roots negatively. Therefore this observed increase was not accompanied by an increase in yield of sesquiterpenic acids per plant. Furthermore, one of the two genotypes had remarkably high hydroxyvalerenic acid contents and can be regarded as a hydroxyvalerenic acid chemotype.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Botany and Pharmacognosy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Wien, Austria. monika.nell@vetmeduni.ac.at
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nell
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wawrosch
authors.forename: Siegrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinkellner
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vierheilig
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lössl
authors.forename: Chlodwig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zitterl-Eglseer
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D005658:Fungi; D005838:Genotype; D007192:Indenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D038821:Mycorrhizae; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development*; D027343:Rhizome; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013559:Symbiosis; D014632:Valerian / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007192:Indenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C037133:valerenic acid