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Planta Med 2010; 76(4): 393-398
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1186180
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Root Colonization by Symbiotic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increases Sesquiterpenic Acid Concentrations in Valeriana officinalis L.

Monika Nell1 , 2 , Christoph Wawrosch3 , Siegrid Steinkellner2 , Horst Vierheilig2 , 4 , Brigitte Kopp3 , Andreas Lössl5 , Chlodwig Franz1 , Johannes Novak1 , Karin Zitterl-Eglseer1
  • 1Institute for Applied Botany and Pharmacognosy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Wien, Austria
  • 2Institute of Plant Protection, DAPP, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Wien, Austria
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
  • 4Departamento de Microbiología de Suelos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, Granada, Spain
  • 5Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, DAPP, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Wien, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

received June 5, 2009 revised August 4, 2009

accepted Sept. 1, 2009

Publication Date:
06 October 2009 (online)

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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.

Key words

Valeriana officinalis - Valerianaceae - valerian - arbuscular mycorrhiza - sesquiterpenic acids - in vitro propagation - hydroxyvalerenic acid chemotype

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Monika Nell

Institute for Applied Botany and Pharmacognosy
University of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinärplatz 1

1210 Wien

Austria

Phone: + 43 12 50 77 31 02

Fax: + 43 12 50 77 31 90

Email: monika.nell@vetmeduni.ac.at

    www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/toc/plantamedica