Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the phosphorus stresses response mechanisms of Artemisia argyi

Abstract Purpose Enzymatic activity in plant signaling, photosynthesis, energy metabolism, and respiratory activities depend on the amount of readily available phosphorus in the soil. Artemisia argyi(A. argyi) is a medicinal plant with antifungal, antiinsect, and anti-inflammatory activities. Our goal was to increase knowledge of the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in the investigation of the effects of soil phosphorus on important secondary metabolites of A. argyi that regulate growth. Methods At various phosphorus levels, A. argyi was examined for its agronomic characteristics, elemental content in the leaves, generation of significant metabolic chemicals, and molecular mechanisms. Results A. argyi displayed the highest levels of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid C, and neochlorogenic acid) and flavonoids (hispidulin, jaceosidin, eupatilin, and casticin), measured in the leaves, when treated with low levels of phosphorus. P-element levels significantly correlated with the amount of each active ingredient, and transcript Phosphorus levels also affected terpenoid content and the expression of numerous genes involved in the 4-hydroxytoluene pathway (MEP) and the pentadienyl pathway (MVA), which are both necessary for terpenoid production. Conclusions Low levels of phosphorus application enhance the accumulation of medicinal chemicals in A. argyi, medium levels of phosphorus application stimulate the growth of A. argyi, and associated genes are often down-regulated with higher levels of phosphorus application.