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Acylsugars are a group of plant-derived secondary metabolites that lack nitrogen. They typically consist of aliphatic acyl groups of low to medium chain lengths esterified to the hydroxyl groups of glucose or sucrose. Presence of such acyl groups gives these compounds hydrophobic properties. This group of compounds has been extensively studied in tomato and related species, in which these compounds are produced and secreted from trichomes on the plant leaf and stem surface. Production of copious quantities of these acylsugars give a sticky feel to the plant tissue. In particular this flower has shown to distract herbivorous insect pests against thrips damage. It is believed that acylsugars provide physical and/or chemical defense to the plant.

Definition

Acylsugars are nonvolatile and viscous polyesters that consist of acyl chains on sucrose or glucose backbones. These attached acid chains may vary in length from short to medium which affects the phenotypic characteristics of the plant. Other factors that may affect plant phenotype includes the presence of either glucose or sucrose, the number of acyl chains as well as the total amounts of acyl sugars.

Acylsugars are produced in the secretory glandular trichomes of many plants, specifically those that belong to the Solanaceae family. These compounds are identified to be responsible for physical and/or chemical defense plant defense. Additionally, potential commercial applications were also found in these compounds.

Functions

Functions of acylsugars have been the subject of many researches. For instance, acylsugars in Solanum pennellii discourage ovipositor or insects and pests to lay eggs and contains toxins to lure out herbivores. A study showed that this natural insect-repellant property may lead to the breeding and development of thrips-resistant tomato which could be of commercial benefit. Additionally, acylsugars from other genera were also found to render protection against herbivores and plant pathogens..

Molecules of acylsugars are also classified as an amphiphile which helps in providing a supplementary source of water in plants through the reduction of the surface tension of the absorbed dew.

Acylsugars also exhibit commercial benefits including pesticides, food additives, cosmetics and personal care products, anti-biotics, and anti-inflammatory medications. Because of this, acylsugars have been the focus of studies aiming to discover successful breeding crop techniques and synthetic methods of metabolizing acylsugars.

References

• Ben-Mahmoud S, Smeda JR, Chappell TM, Stafford-Banks C, Kaplinsky CH, Anderson T, Mutschler MA, Kennedy GG, Ullman DE (2018). "Acylsugar amount and fatty acid profile differentially suppress oviposition by western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, on tomato and interspecific hybrid flowers". PLOS One. 13 (7): e0201583. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201583. PMC 6067722. PMID 30063755.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
• Kim, K. K.; Ji, W. M.; McKnight, T. (April 2018). "Candidate gene network for acylsugar metabolism and plant defense in wild tomato Solanum pennellii". Plant Physiology. 160 (2012): 1854–1870. doi:10.1104/pp.112.204735.
• Mandal, S.; Gonzales-Vigil, E.; Shi, F.; Jones, D.; Barry, C.; Last, R. (December 2012). "Striking natural diversity in glandular trichome acylsugar composition is shaped by variation at acyltransferase2 locus in the wild tomato Solanum habrochaites". bioRxiv: 1–54. {{cite journal}}: Text "https://doi.org/10.1101/294306" ignored (help)
• D'Ambrosio, D. A.; Mutschler, M.; Walgenbach, J.; Kennedy, G. (November 2013). "The effect of acylsugars of the wild tomato Solanum pennellii on the oviposition behaviour of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca)". Research Gate.