Parallel analysis of global garlic gene expression and alliin content following leaf wounding

Abstract Background Allium sativum (garlic) is both an important food and medicinal plant of economic significance. This plant is rich in sulfides, especially alliin, which is a precursor for the synthesis of allicin. At present, there are few reports on the determination of alliin content in different parts of garlic under abiotic stress. Results Our data determining the accumulation of alliin in different organs showed that the content of alliin in garlic root was the lowest level recorded, while the content of alliin within a garlic bud was the highest level determined. Further, alliin levels decreased in mature leaves following wounding. Further, transcriptomic data generated over time following wounding of mature garlic leaves showed genes integral to the biosynthetic pathways of cysteine (CYS) and serine (SER) formation were significantly up-regulated. Conclusions This differential expression could underpin the accumulation of alliin and its precursors in garlic. Thus, our results provide a platform to help elucidate the biosynthetic pathway alliin biosynthesis.