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Research Article

Effects of Elevated CO2 on Saponin Accumulation of Panax japonicus are Associated with Changes in the Carbon and Nitrogen Balance
Xiao Wang1*
,
E Liang1
,
Xiaohui Song1
1College of Agriculture, Anshun University, Anshun 561000, China
*Corresponding Author
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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of elevated CO2 concentrations (e1CO2: 550 µmol mol-1, e1CO2: 750 µmol mol-1) at different durations (27 vs. 84 days) on the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) balance and on saponin accumulation in Panax japonicus. After 27 days, no significant differences were observed in the leaf C or N values or in the C/N ratio or total saponin content across the treatments. However, after 84 days, e1CO2 did not alter the N content in stems or rhizomes (medicinal organ), whereas it increased the C/N ratios in the leaves and stems. In contrast, e2CO2 significantly reduced the N content in all organs and increased the C/N ratios in the rhizomes by 25.07%. The total saponin content in the leaves, stems, and rhizomes was significantly higher under both e1CO2 and e2CO2 compared to the control treatment, with the most pronounced increase in rhizomes under 750 ppm CO2 after 84 days. The saponin content was positively correlated with the C/N ratio across all organs. Interactions between the CO2 magnitude and duration significantly influenced the C/N ratio, stem/rhizome N content, and total saponin accumulation. These results demonstrate that elevated CO2 (especially 750 ppm for 84 days) modulates the C/N balance to promote saponin biosynthesis, highlighting a CO2-mediated mechanism for secondary metabolite regulation in P. japonicus.

Keywords
carbohydrate generation
climate change
medicinal plants
photosynthesis
secondary metabolites
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Received Date : 2025-05-30
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-27
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-12
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20250075
Journal Informaiton Horticultural Science and Technology Horticultural Science and Technology
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