WP2 Impact of climate change on camelina seed proteins and antinutritional compounds.

Mucilage and specialized metabolites (e.g. tannins and glucosinolates) composition have a strong impact on seed protein availability and, more generally, seed quality and tolerance to stresses. Camelina sativa seeds are characterized by a large diversity of specialized metabolites (SMs), which is strongly affected by the environmental conditions and the genotype¹, and by temporal and spatial distribution in seed tissues². While seed SMs are characterized by high plasticity, little information is available on the impact of the environmental conditions on seed protein and mucilage amounts and composition. Besides their role as nutritional or antinutritional compounds, SMs protect seeds against environmental stress, and impact their agronomic quality³.

For example, flavonoids and glucosinolates are key metabolites that protect seeds against desiccation, high temperature, and pathogen attack⁴-⁶. The main objective of WP2 is to elucidate the impact of the environment on protein availability and quality, either by direct effects on protein amounts and composition, or indirectly from seed mucilage and SM variations affecting protein availability and extractability. We will characterize C. sativa seed quality by analysing protein and co-product contents and diversity in contrasting growth conditions. The impact of abiotic and nutritional stress on protein will be studied in selected camelina genotypes. A particular attention will be given to seed mucilage production that could affect protein amounts and composition and that is affected by stress. Molecular characterization at key stages of seed development will target candidate genes controlling protein content and availability for further validation.

WP2 Tasks

T2.1 Impact of the abiotic stress and plant nutrition on the accumulation of seed proteins and other compounds
T2.2 Impact of the abiotic stress and plant nutrition on protein quality and availability
T2.3 Stress-regulation of protein plasticity and availability during seed development and filling

References :

1 : S. Boutet, L. Barreda, F. Perreau, J.-C. Totozafy, C. Mauve, B. Gakière, E. Delannoy, M.-L. Martin-Magniette, A. Monti, L. Lepiniec, F. Zanetti and M. Corso, Plant J., 2022, 110, 147–165.
2 : L. Barreda, C. Brosse, S. Boutet, N. Klewko, D. De Vos, T. Francois, B. Collet, D. Grain, C. Boulard, B. Bernay, F. Perreau, L. Lepiniec, L. Rajjou and M. Corso, bioRxiv, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.31.596893.
3 : B. Alberghini, F. Zanetti, M. Corso, S. Boutet, L. Lepiniec, A. Vecchi and A. Monti, Ind. Crop. Prod., 2022, 182, 114944.
4 : M. Corso, F. Perreau, G. Mouille and L. Lepiniec, Plant Sci., 2020, 296, 110471.
5 : L. Barreda, C. Brosse, S. Boutet, F. Perreau, L. Rajjou, L. Lepiniec and M. Corso, Nat. Prod. Rep., 2024, 41, 834–859.
6 : M. Corso, F. Perreau, L. Rajjou, R. Ben Malek, L. Lepiniec and G. Mouille, in Advances in Botanical Research, 2021, pp. 35–70.