Abstract
The aim of the present work was to study the effect of foliar application of micronutrients [Zinc: Zn1 (0%); Zn2 (0.5%); Zn3 (1.0%) and Boron: B1 (0%); B2 (0.25%); B3 (0.5%)] on the antioxidants and pungency of onion cv. “Sukhsagar” (Allium cepa L.). In this experiment, it was suggested that the highest contents of total and free phenol was obtained by the highest dose of Zn (1%) in combination with 0% B, and single dose of Zn (0.5%) in combination with 0% B respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was found to increase with respect to control following the highest dose of B (0.5%) alone. However, the peroxidase (POD) activity increased more with respect to control following the single dose of B (0.25%) rather than the double dose (0.5%). The highest Molybdate reducing antioxidant potential (MRAP) was observed in 0.5% Zn in combination with 0% B, whereas that of 2, 2-Diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPHRAC) was found in the interaction effect of the double doses of both Zn (1%) and B (0.5%), which also offered the lowest lipid peroxidation. The highest pyruvic acid development was observed by the interaction effect of 0% Zn and 0.25% B. Based on the average values of the biochemical parameters and the results of PCA, the treatment with Zn1B3 (0% of Zn in combination with double dose of 0.5% of B) was proved to be most promising with respect to antioxidant properties.
Highlights
From time immemorial, onion (Allium cepa L.) has been used as common food and for the treatment of many diseases
Apart from providing basic nutrition, onion is well known for its health benefits; numerous therapeutic properties have been reported in onion viz., anticarcinogenic, antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties (Benkeblia, 2005)
Non-enzymatic antioxidants Ascorbic acid and phenol Boron application is known to elevate the ascorbate concentration in plant tissues as compared to B-deficient conditions (Blevins and Lukazewski, 1998)
Summary
Onion (Allium cepa L.) has been used as common food and for the treatment of many diseases. Antioxidants rich food play an important role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancers (Garber et al, 2002), neurodegenerative diseases (Di Matteo and Esposito, 2003), as well as prevention of inflammation and problems causes by cell and cutaneous aging (Ames et al, 1993). Micronutrients have received a great deal of importance in crop production during recent years because of the widespread occurrences of their deficiencies from different parts of the country. Researchers from almost all the states in the country have reported significant responses of many crops to micronutrient fertilization. The majority of nutrient input to agriculture comes from commercial mineral fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers are considered to play a significant but lesser role in nutrient contribution, leaving aside their beneficial effects on soil physicochemical and biological properties. Foliar feeding is a relatively new and controversial technique of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer directly to their leaves
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