Optometric, Phytochemical and Gene Expression Analysis of Ergastic Crystal Load in Plant Parts of Purple Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) Rajan Renu**, Nayagam Justin R.* Department of Botany, Union Christian College, Aluva - 683 102, Affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills, Kottayam, Kerala (India) *e-mail: drjustinrnayagam@gmail.com
**renumarychacko@gmail.com
Online Published on 05 September, 2023. Abstract The present work was a trio-experimental approach focused on the omics-based gene expression pattern for ergastic crystal formation in vegetative parts of purple amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) and compared with physio-chemical estimation methods and optometric image analysis. Plant samples, root (S1), stem (S2), mature leaf (S3), young leaf (S4), insect attacked leaf (S5), senescent leaf (S6) were analysed. The gene expression analysis was carried out using qRTPCR for two oxalate synthesizing genes SoGLO and SoOXAC, and two oxalate degrading genes SoOXO and SoOXDC and the area occupied by calcium oxalate crystals were plotted with the help of IMAGE J and ZEN 4 software in optometric device and the same was quantified using chemical analysis method. Transcriptional level analysis of both sets of gene pointed to the regulation of oxalate levels by complex pathways and could help in generating oxalate-less hybrids in leafy vegetables. Total oxalate was estimated to be 20% more in S6 than S1, and ranged from 25.0-50.2 mg 100 g-1 sample which falls under high to very high oxalate permissible content in foods. Area occupied by druse crystals was maximum in S5, followed by S6 and least was found in S1 ranging from 0.0013-0.0284 μm μm-2 sample. Gene expression of SoGLO gene was comparable to the total oxalate content; whereas the area occupied by CaOx crystals showed variations owing to the presence of soluble oxalate content in it. Top Keywords Amaranthus cruentus, Druses, Ergastic crystals, Gene expression, Image analysis, Oxalate load, qRT-PCR. Top |