Background and Aims Secondary metabolites are integral to multiple key plant processes (growth regulation, pollinator attraction and interactions with conspecifics, competitors and symbionts) yet their role in plant adaptation remains an underexplored area of research. Carnivorous plants use secondary metabolites to acquire nutrients from prey, but the extent of the role of secondary metabolites in plant carnivory is not known. We aimed to determine the extent of the role of secondary metabolites in facilitating carnivory of the Cape sundew, Drosera capensis. Methods We conducted metabolomic analysis of 72 plants in a time-series experiment before and after simulated prey capture. We used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) and the retention time index to identify compounds in the leaf trap tissue that changed up to 72 h following simulated prey capture. We identified associated metabolic pathways, and cross-compared these compounds with metabolites previously known to be involved in carnivorous plants across taxa. Key Results For the first time in a carnivorous plant, we have profiled the whole-leaf metabolome response to prey capture. Reliance on secondary plant metabolites was higher than previously thought – 2383 out of 3257 compounds in fed leaves had statistically significant concentration changes in comparison with unfed controls. Of these, ~34 compounds are also associated with carnivory in other species; 11 are unique to Nepenthales. At least 20 compounds had 10-fold changes in concentration, 12 of which had 30-fold changes and are typically associated with defence or attraction in non-carnivorous plants. Conclusions Secondary plant metabolites are utilized in plant carnivory to an extent greater than previously thought – we found a whole-metabolome response to prey capture. Plant carnivory, at the metabolic level, likely evolved from at least two distinct functions: attraction and defence. Findings of this study support the hypothesis that secondary metabolites play an important role in plant diversification and adaptation to new environments.

中文翻译：

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代谢组学分析显示依赖次生植物代谢物来促进毛毡苔、毛毡苔的食肉活动

背景和目标 次生代谢物是多个关键植物过程（生长调节、传粉者吸引以及与同种、竞争者和共生体的相互作用）不可或缺的一部分，但它们在植物适应中的作用仍然是一个未充分探索的研究领域。食肉植物利用次生代谢物从猎物获取养分，但次生代谢物在植物食肉动物中的作用程度尚不清楚。我们的目的是确定次生代谢物在促进毛毡苔（Drosera capensis）的肉食性中的作用程度。方法 我们在模拟猎物捕获前后的时间序列实验中对 72 种植物进行了代谢组学分析。我们使用超高效液相色谱 - 串联质谱 (UHPLC-MS/MS) 和保留时间指数来识别在模拟猎物捕获后长达 72 小时发生变化的捕叶器组织中的化合物。我们确定了相关的代谢途径，并将这些化合物与以前已知参与跨类群食肉植物的代谢物进行了交叉比较。关键结果 我们首次在肉食植物中分析了全叶代谢组对捕获猎物的反应。对次生植物代谢物的依赖程度比之前认为的要高——与未喂食的对照相比，喂食叶片中的 3257 种化合物中有 2383 种具有统计学上显着的浓度变化。其中，约 34 种化合物也与其他物种的食肉动物有关；11 是猪笼草独有的。至少 20 种化合物的浓度发生了 10 倍的变化，其中 12 种发生了 30 倍的变化，并且通常与非食肉植物的防御或吸引有关。结论 次生植物代谢物在植物食肉动物中的利用程度比以前认为的要高——我们发现了对猎物捕获的全代谢组反应。在新陈代谢水平上，植物食肉动物可能从至少两种不同的功能进化而来：吸引和防御。本研究结果支持次级代谢物在植物多样化和适应新环境中发挥重要作用的假设。结论 次生植物代谢物在植物食肉动物中的利用程度比以前认为的要高——我们发现了对猎物捕获的全代谢组反应。在新陈代谢水平上，植物食肉动物可能从至少两种不同的功能进化而来：吸引和防御。本研究结果支持次级代谢物在植物多样化和适应新环境中发挥重要作用的假设。结论 次生植物代谢物在植物食肉动物中的利用程度比以前认为的要高——我们发现了对猎物捕获的全代谢组反应。在新陈代谢水平上，植物食肉动物可能从至少两种不同的功能进化而来：吸引和防御。本研究结果支持次级代谢物在植物多样化和适应新环境中发挥重要作用的假设。