Investigation of the Role of the Calvin Cycle and C1 Metabolism during HCHO Metabolism in Gaseous HCHO‐Treated Petunia under Light and Dark Conditions Using 13C‐NMR

INTRODUCTION: It has been shown that formaldehyde (HCHO) absorbed by plants can be assimilated through the Calvin cycle or C1 metabolism. Our previous study indicated that Petunia hybrida could effectively eliminate HCHO from HCHO‐polluted air. OBJECTIVE: To understand the roles of C1 metabolism and the Calvin cycle during HCHO metabolism and detoxification in petunia plants treated with gaseous H¹³CHO under light and dark conditions. METHODS: Aseptically grown petunia plants were treated with gaseous H¹³CHO under dark and light conditions. The metabolites generated from HCHO detoxification in petunia were investigated using¹³C‐NMR. RESULTS: [2‐¹³C]glycine (Gly) was generated via C1 metabolism and [U‐¹³C]glucose (Gluc) was produced through the Calvin cycle simultaneously in petunia treated with low‐level gaseous H¹³CHO under light conditions. Generation of [2‐¹³C]Gly decreased whereas [U‐¹³C]Gluc and [U‐¹³C]fructose (Fruc) production increased greatly under high‐level gaseous H¹³CHO stress in the light. In contrast, [U‐¹³C]Gluc and [U‐¹³C] Fruc production decreased greatly and [2‐¹³C]Gly generation increased significantly under low‐level and high‐level gaseous H¹³CHO stress in the dark. CONCLUSION: C1 metabolism and the Calvin cycle contributed differently to HCHO metabolism and detoxification in gaseous H¹³CHO‐treated petunia plants. As the level of gaseous HCHO increased, the role of C1 metabolism decreased and the role of the Calvin cycle increased under light conditions. However, opposite changes were observed in petunia plants under dark conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.