title: Genetic variation in alkaloid accumulation in leaves of Nicotiana.
abstract: Alkaloids are plant secondary metabolites that are widely distributed in Nicotiana species and contribute greatly to the quality of tobacco leaves. Some alkaloids, such as nornicotine and myosmine, have adverse effects on human health. To reduce the content of harmful alkaloids in tobacco leaves through conventional breeding, a genetic study of the alkaloid variation among different genotypes is required. In this study, alkaloid profiles in leaves of five Nicotiana tabacum cultivars and Nicotiana tomentosiformis were investigated. Six alkaloids were identified from all six genotypes via gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Significant differences in alkaloid content were observed both among different leaf positions and among cultivars. The contents of nornicotine and myosmine were positively and significantly correlated (R(2)=0.881), and were also separated from those of other alkaloids by clustering. Thus, the genotype plays a major role in alkaloid accumulation, indicating a high potential for manipulation of alkaloid content through traditional breeding.
authors.affiliation: Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Technology Center, China Tobacco Zhejiang Industrial Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310024, China; College of Agriculture & Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guo-jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guo-hai
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Fang-fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qiao-mei
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Fu-cheng
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids