Metabolomic and proteomic analysis of Moringa oleifera cultivated with vermicompost and phosphate rock under water stress conditions

Abstract

Interest in the plant gender Moringa oleifera has grown in recent years as it is a plant that can potentially provide a good amount of nutrients necessary for human consumption. Thus, humans could benefit from nutrient enrichment in this plant and produce foods with high protein content. Protein and metabolite content is influenced by soil type, organic input and frequency of irrigation. For this reason we evaluated the effect of different culture conditions on the metabolomic profile and protein concentration leaf of M. oleifera. The cultivation of M. oleifera with organic inputs was conducted in a greenhouse. Nutrient sources were vermicompost nitrogen at a fertilization rate of 150 kg/ha, phosphate rock as a source of phosphorus at a rate of fertilization of 96 kg P/ha and urea (control) at a rate of 150 kg N/ha. The experimental design was a split plot with randomized complete block. The frequency of irrigation was monitored for each of the levels of water holding capacity (WHC), low (25% WHC), medium (40% WHC) and high (55% WHC). The application of soil-rock phosphate-vermicompost increases morphometric parameters significantly at 45 and 90 days. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of leaf extracts revealed that the most abundant metabolites were flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenes. Thus, water stress induced changes in the metabolomic profile and the morphometric variables of M. oleifera. These results are important for Moringa industrialization for metabolite production culture in different crop conditions.