Effects of mixtures of phenolic acids on leaf area expansion of cucumber seedlings grown in different pH portsmouth A1 soil materials

Abstract

Cucumber seedlings growing in A1horizon Portsmouth soil material adjusted to pH 5.2, 6.0, or 6.9 were treated with 0, 0.25 or 0.5, μmol/ g soil ferulic acid,p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, or an equal mixture (0.5 μmol/g total) of two acids every other day. A total of five treatments was given starting with day 7 from seeding. Absolute rates of leaf expansion were determined for seedlings. The experiment was terminated when seedlings were 17 days old. All three phenolic acids inhibited leaf expansion. The dose required for 50% inhibition of absolute rates of leaf expansion increased as pH of the soil systems increased. The order of toxicity based on 50% dose and relative potency were as follows: ferulic acid > vanillic acid =p-coumaric acid. Effects of mixtures of phenolic acids on absolute rates of leaf expansion, when compared to the effects of individual phenolic acids, were found to be antagonistic for the ferulic-vanillic acid mixture and the ferulic-p-coumaric acid mixture in the pH 5.2 soil systems. Several phenolic acid treatments were required before antagonistic effects of mixtures were evident. In all other instances, when treatment effects were significant, the effects of individual phenolic acids were additive.