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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2005; 7(6): 677-685
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872989
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Growth-Promoting Nitrogen Nutrition Affects Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Young Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Leaves

T. Strissel1 , 2 , H. Halbwirth2 , U. Hoyer1 , 2 , C. Zistler1 , 2 , K. Stich2 , D. Treutter1
  • 1Department für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Fachgebiet Obstbau, Technische Universität München-Weihenstephan, Alte Akademie 16, 85350 Freising, Germany
  • 2Institut für Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik und Technische Biowissenschaften, Technische Universität Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Wien, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 28, 2005

Accepted: October 14, 2005

Publication Date:
02 January 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Enhanced shoot growth and a decrease in flavonoid concentration in apple trees grown under high nitrogen (N) supply was observed in previous studies, along with increasing scab susceptibility of cultivar “Golden Delicious” after high N nutrition. Several hypotheses have suggested that there is a trade-off between primary and secondary metabolism because of competition for common substrates, but nothing is known about regulation at the enzyme level. In this study, a set of experiments was performed to elucidate the effect of N nutrition on the activities of key enzymes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [PAL], chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase [CHS/CHI}, flavanone 3-hydroxylase [FHT], flavonol synthase [FLS], dihydroflavonol 4-reductase [DFR]) and the accumulation of different groups of phenylpropanoids. The inhibition of flavonoid accumulation by high N nutrition could be confirmed, but the influence of N supply on the flavonoid enzymes CHS/CHI, FHT, DFR, and FLS was not evident. However, PAL activity seems to be downregulated, thus forming a bottleneck resulting in a generally decreased flavonoid accumulation. Furthermore, the response of the scab-resistant cultivar “Rewena” to high N nutrition was not as strong as that of the susceptible cultivar “Golden Delicious”.

Key words

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) - chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase (CHS/CHI) - flavanone 3-hydroxylase (FHT) - flavonol synthase (FLS) - dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) - nitrogen nutrition - apple leaf - hydroxycinnamic acids - dihydrochalcones - flavonols - flavanols

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D. Treutter

FG Obstbau
Technische Universität München

Alte Akademie 16

85350 Freising

Germany

Email: dieter.treutter@wzw.tum.de

Guest Editor: R. Matyssek