Moss metabolomics uncovers environmental effects.
Scientists from the IPB, the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the University of Brunswick in Canada recently analyzed the metabolite profiles of moss under different environmental conditions. This ecometabolomics approach aimed to help better understand the still poorly studied chemical reactions of these organisms. After all, mosses - like all plants - can produce specialized metabolites in response to changing environmental conditions, despite their simple structure.
As their research object, the scientists chose the flat-leaved scalewort, Radula complanata - a liverwort that grows mainly epiphytically on tree bark. R. complanata is widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere and therefore lends itself well to comparative studies between different locations. The researchers collected moss samples in Germany, Canada and Sweden, which they analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS). They then evaluated the extensive metabolite data from this untargeted metabolomics experiment using statistical methods to identify correlations and patterns.
Their analysis revealed that most of the variation (about 39%) in metabolite composition was due to host tree species, and another large portion (about 25%) was due to environmental conditions. The researchers then examined these variations in more detail in order to be able to link them to specific MS signals and thus to substance classes. They could identify 55 compounds that varied significantly by host tree species, whereas changes in 23 compounds were characteristic of the different environments. In connection with the geographical location, the metabolite profiles shifted mainly with regard to the composition of primary metabolites such as amino acids and peptides. The scientists attributed these variations to drought stress responses of the moss, by which it adapts to the varying humidity of the environment. However, profile shifts were also observed in specialized metabolites such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These correlated strongly with the host tree species - an indication that both organisms interact to a high degree.
R. complanata is thus able to respond flexibly to ecological conditions and adapt its metabolome accordingly, the researchers conclude. In the future, it may be possible to use this type of study on mosses to draw conclusions about habitat health.
Original publication:
Blatt-Janmaat, K.L.; Neumann, S.; Ziegler, J.; Peters, K. Host Tree and Geography Induce Metabolic Shifts in the Epiphytic Liverwort Radula complanata. Plants 2023, 12, 571. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030571
