Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations

BackgroundMost studies on domesticated plants have focused on those utilized for sustenance purposes. This study provides valuable insights into the domestication processes of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a semi-evergreen twining vine in the Caprifoliaceae family that is important in trad...

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Main Authors: Congzhe Hou, Luyao Huang, Zhuangzhuang Li, Nan Sun, Sheng Yang, Jia Li, Zhenhua Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1501396/full
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author Congzhe Hou
Luyao Huang
Zhuangzhuang Li
Nan Sun
Sheng Yang
Jia Li
Zhenhua Liu
author_facet Congzhe Hou
Luyao Huang
Zhuangzhuang Li
Nan Sun
Sheng Yang
Jia Li
Zhenhua Liu
author_sort Congzhe Hou
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMost studies on domesticated plants have focused on those utilized for sustenance purposes. This study provides valuable insights into the domestication processes of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a semi-evergreen twining vine in the Caprifoliaceae family that is important in traditional Chinese medicine for its flower buds and potential as a dietary supplement. The definition of domestication syndrome for honeysuckle remains unclear due to its perennial and asexual reproduction mode, resulting in a lack of information on domestication-related traits. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze differences in morphology, resistance, and biochemical composition between wild and cultivated varieties.MethodsA total of 36 wild and 81 cultivated specimens were examined to compare plant morphology, flowering time, bud length, active ingredients, and resistance between wild and cultivated populations.ResultsThe cultivated honeysuckle exhibited several noteworthy characteristics, including more erect plant morphology, higher flower-to-leaf ratio, more obvious aggregation of flowers into clusters at the top of branches, higher frequency of flowering, and longer bud length compared to the wild type. Additionally, the cultivated specimen demonstrated significantly elevated levels of chlorogenic acid as a biochemical constituent. However, in terms of resistance against powdery mildew, wild individuals displayed evident advantages over their cultivated counterparts.ConclusionThe observed phenotypic variation within the honeysuckle field provides empirical support for the hypothesis that farmer management practices influence domestication syndrome, as indicated by the deliberate enhancement of specific desirable traits during species domestication.
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spelling doaj-art-6aaf9a45012c44dfa61fe940f67b1f442025-01-24T07:13:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-01-011510.3389/fpls.2024.15013961501396Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populationsCongzhe Hou0Luyao Huang1Zhuangzhuang Li2Nan Sun3Sheng Yang4Jia Li5Zhenhua Liu6Experimental Center of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaBackgroundMost studies on domesticated plants have focused on those utilized for sustenance purposes. This study provides valuable insights into the domestication processes of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a semi-evergreen twining vine in the Caprifoliaceae family that is important in traditional Chinese medicine for its flower buds and potential as a dietary supplement. The definition of domestication syndrome for honeysuckle remains unclear due to its perennial and asexual reproduction mode, resulting in a lack of information on domestication-related traits. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze differences in morphology, resistance, and biochemical composition between wild and cultivated varieties.MethodsA total of 36 wild and 81 cultivated specimens were examined to compare plant morphology, flowering time, bud length, active ingredients, and resistance between wild and cultivated populations.ResultsThe cultivated honeysuckle exhibited several noteworthy characteristics, including more erect plant morphology, higher flower-to-leaf ratio, more obvious aggregation of flowers into clusters at the top of branches, higher frequency of flowering, and longer bud length compared to the wild type. Additionally, the cultivated specimen demonstrated significantly elevated levels of chlorogenic acid as a biochemical constituent. However, in terms of resistance against powdery mildew, wild individuals displayed evident advantages over their cultivated counterparts.ConclusionThe observed phenotypic variation within the honeysuckle field provides empirical support for the hypothesis that farmer management practices influence domestication syndrome, as indicated by the deliberate enhancement of specific desirable traits during species domestication.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1501396/fullhoneysucklewildcultivateddomesticationbiochemical composition
spellingShingle Congzhe Hou
Luyao Huang
Zhuangzhuang Li
Nan Sun
Sheng Yang
Jia Li
Zhenhua Liu
Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
Frontiers in Plant Science
honeysuckle
wild
cultivated
domestication
biochemical composition
title Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
title_full Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
title_fullStr Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
title_full_unstemmed Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
title_short Domestication of medicinal plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) in China: comparison of morphological, resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
title_sort domestication of medicinal plants lonicera japonica thunb in china comparison of morphological resistance and biochemical traits between wild and cultivated populations
topic honeysuckle
wild
cultivated
domestication
biochemical composition
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1501396/full
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