During their domestication process, the species of the genus Opuntia lose their ability to survive in the wild. Presence and concentration of secondary metabolites which play a role in the interaction with their surroundings are modified but without an identifiable pattern. A domestication gradient based on morphological characteristics has been previously described for the species in the Opuntia genus. Secondary metabolites are a diverse group of bioactive compounds that relate to a species evolution, both in their natural and artificial (domestication process) selection environments. In addition, these compounds are associated with plant resistance to stress when growing in the wild. A comprehensive characterization of secondary metabolite profiles in the Opuntia genus that accounts for the genotypic differences related to the degree of domestication has not previously been conducted. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition of young cladodes from fifteen variants, of O. ficus-indica, O. albicarpa Sheinvar, and O. megacantha Salm-Dyck, identified as species with a highly advanced, advanced and intermediate degree of domestication, respectively, and O. hyptiacantha A. Web, and O. streptacantha Lem. identified as wild-intermediate and wild species. Analyses were carried out using a HPLC-diode array detection technique. Out of the 13 identified and quantified phenolic molecules and terpenoids, only the caffeic, ferulic and syringic acids, and the terpenoid β-amyrin were present in all variants. The flavonoid luteolin was absent in all five species. Gallic, vallinic, p-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids were only present in 53–87% of variants; flavonoids quercetin, isorhamnetin, rutin and apigenin in 47–87% of the variants. Both, oleanolic acid and peniocerol, were present only in 60% of variants. Isorhamnetin was absent in O. hyptiacantha and quercetin in O. streptacntha. Differences and similarities in the secondary metabolites content showed no recognizable trend relating to the degree of domestication across the species in this genus.

中文翻译：

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筛选叶状枝中的次生代谢物以进一步解码仙人掌属（仙人掌科）的驯化过程

在驯化过程中，仙人掌属物种失去了在野外生存的能力。在与周围环境相互作用中起作用的次级代谢物的存在和浓度被改变，但没有可识别的模式。之前已经为仙人掌属的物种描述了基于形态特征的驯化梯度。次级代谢物是与物种进化相关的一组多样化的生物活性化合物，无论是在其自然和人工（驯化过程）选择环境中。此外，这些化合物与植物在野外生长时的抗逆性有关。以前没有对仙人掌属中次生代谢物谱的综合表征，它解释了与驯化程度相关的基因型差异。本研究评估了来自 15 种变种的年轻枝叶的植物化学组成，这些变种分别为 O. ficus-indica、O. albicarpa Sheinvar 和 O. megacantha Salm-Dyck，被确定为分别具有高度高级、高级和中等驯化程度的物种，和 O. hyptiacantha A. Web 和 O. streptacantha Lem。鉴定为野生中间种和野生种。使用HPLC-二极管阵列检测技术进行分析。在 13 种已鉴定和定量的酚类分子和萜类化合物中，只有咖啡酸、阿魏酸和丁香酸以及萜类 β-香树脂醇存在于所有变体中。所有五个物种中都没有类黄酮木犀草素。没食子酸、缬氨酸、对羟基苯甲酸、绿原酸和对香豆酸仅存在于 53-87% 的变体中；黄酮类化合物槲皮素、异鼠李素、芦丁和芹菜素占 47-87% 的变体。齐墩果酸和青霉烯醇均仅存在于 60% 的变体中。异鼠李素在 O. hyptiacantha 中不存在，而槲皮素在 O. streptacntha 中不存在。次生代谢物含量的差异和相似性没有显示出与该属物种间驯化程度相关的可识别趋势。仅存在于 60% 的变体中。异鼠李素在 O. hyptiacantha 中不存在，而槲皮素在 O. streptacntha 中不存在。次生代谢物含量的差异和相似性没有显示出与该属物种间驯化程度相关的可识别趋势。仅存在于 60% 的变体中。异鼠李素在 O. hyptiacantha 中不存在，而槲皮素在 O. streptacntha 中不存在。次生代谢物含量的差异和相似性没有显示出与该属物种间驯化程度相关的可识别趋势。