Phenol derivatives in the moss Physcomitrella patens
The major aim of the project was to elucidate the role of phenols in the interaction of the moss Physcomitrella patens and phytopathogens. We wanted to test the effect of biotic stress (virus) on the content of total polyphenols/flavonoids in the mossPhyscomitrella patens; for this, the moss had to be grown on a soil. After that, the process of moss infection with satellite-associated Cucumber mosaic virus (CMVsat) was optimized. CMVsat infection of P. patens tissue was confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, we developed and applied HPLC method for the analysis of flavonoids in P. patens. A dominant phenolic compound from P. patens was isolated for further detailed analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography system linked with a mass spectrometer. Localization of flavonoids in the P. patens cells was analyzed using a high sensitivity confocal microscope. In the end, we could show that P. patens showed an altered phytochemical content when inoculated with CMV.
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