Work

Analysis of aroma components and transcriptome in Chimonocalamus delicatus an endemic bamboo species from Yunnan, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Chimonocalamus is the only bamboo species known to secrete aromatic oils. The species is named after the distinctive aromatic oil found within the cavity of its bamboo culm. This study employed sensory analysis, electronic nose, headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and transcriptome sequencing to investigate the volatile component composition and formation mechanisms in C. delicatus , an endemic bamboo species in Yunnan, China. The analyzed bamboo samples included culms of different developmental stages as well as various plant parts. The volatile compounds of C. delicatus primarily consist of sesquiterpenes, including humulene and caryophyllene, which belong to terpenoid compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant differences in volatile compounds among different culm ages and plant parts, suggesting a key source of the characteristic aroma associated with different developmental stages and plant organs. Transcriptome analysis showed that the aroma of C. delicatus was predominantly enriched in secondary metabolite pathways, including the MVA and MEP pathways. Enzymatic activities of key metabolic pathway enzymes were also determined. Comprehensive analysis of differentially abundant volatile metabolites and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in C. delicatus identified key regulatory genes (DXR, FPS, TPS6, TPS7) associated with volatile compound biosynthesis. This study elucidates the volatile components and regulatory network of C. delicatus essential oil, establishing a theoretical foundation for developing bioactive compounds from this species. • Chimonocalamus delicatus , a bamboo species endemic to Yunnan, China, is known for its yellow aromatic oil contained in the stem cavity and is the only Bambusoideae species with an aromatic odor. • In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) was used to analyze the volatile compounds of C. delicatus at different stem ages and different parts. The results showed that Humulene and caryophyllene were the main aroma contributing substances in bamboo culm. • Humulene and caryophyllene, as terpenes, are widely used in anti-inflammatory, anesthetic, anthelmintic, analgesic, antifungal and antioxidant activities. This study fills the gap of essential oil components extracted from bamboo plants and provides a theoretical basis for the development of C. delicatus as a cash crop. • Four key enzymes involved in the regulation of terpenoid synthesis, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reducing isomerase (DXR), farnicyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPS), sesquiterpenoid cyclase (STS) and glycoside hydrolase (GH), were found to be positively correlated with the contents of major aroma substances in C. delicatus. Five differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the biosynthesis of aroma compounds (DXR, FPS, TPS6, TPS7 and SS1) were identified, and the metabolic pathways of terpenes in C. delicatus were elucidated.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121963