title: Ecotype variability in growth and secondary metabolite profile in Moringa oleifera: impact of sulfur and water availability.
abstract: Moringa oleifera is widely cultivated in plantations in the tropics and subtropics. Previous cultivation studies with M. oleifera focused primarily only on leaf yield. In the present study, the content of potentially health-promoting secondary metabolites (glucosinolates, phenolic acids, and flavonoids) were also investigated. Six different ecotypes were grown under similar environmental conditions to identify phenotypic differences that can be traced back to the genotype. The ecotypes TOT4880 (origin USA) and TOT7267 (origin India) were identified as having the best growth performance and highest secondary metabolite production, making them an ideal health-promoting food crop. Furthermore, optimal cultivation conditions-exemplarily on sulfur fertilization and water availability-for achieving high leaf and secondary metabolite yields were investigated for M. oleifera. In general, plant biomass and height decreased under water deficiency compared to normal cultivation conditions, whereas the glucosinolate content increased. The effects depended to a great extent on the ecotype.
authors.affiliation: †Division Urban Plant Ecophysiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lentzeallee 55/57, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.affiliation: †Division Urban Plant Ecophysiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lentzeallee 55/57, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulrichs
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schreiner
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: ⊥Julius Kühn Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Product Protection, Königin-Luise-Str. 19, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mewis
mesh_terms: D060146:Ecotype; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D064210:Secondary Metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D005961:Glucosinolates; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D013455:Sulfur; C017616:phenolic acid
keywords: Moringa oleifera; biomass production; ecotypes; flavonoids; glucosinolates; phenolic acids; plant height; sulfur fertilization; water limitation