Abstract
The Brazilian flora is one of the richest in biodiversity and has many species with high pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential. Among these species is ora-pro-nobis (Pereskia aculeata Mill.), which stands out for the high protein content found in its leaves. The exogenous application of amino acids in crop production has shown promising results, such as the increase in productivity and plant quality, besides their capacity in alleviating environmental stress in plants. Exogenous application of L-arginine (0, 0.25, 1.0 and 2.0 g L−1 of water) was performed by drenching on coconut fiber growing media of ora-pro-nobis plants. Plant growth parameters analyzed were chlorophylls and carotenoids contents, crude protein content, and determination of enzymes and oxidative stress substances. The higher concentration of L-arginine (2 g L−1 of water) increased net photosynthetic rate, leaf area, plant fresh and dry mass, carotenoids content and crude protein content in leaves. Thus, the exogenous application of L-arginine in ora-pro-nobis plants can improve both the productivity and nutritional value of its leaves.
Highlights
Brazil has one of the richest flora biodiversity of the world
Within the group of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP) is ora-pro-nobis, which is a native plant of the Brazilian flora and belongs to the Cactaceae family [1,2]
The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of L-arginine application by drenching on ora-pro-nobis grown under soilless system in greenhouse, with the hypothesis that this amino acid could increase yield and nutritional quality of this species due to the role of arginine in plants
Summary
Brazil has one of the richest flora biodiversity of the world. Many plant species with great commercial potential and high nutritional value are still underexploited. Within the group of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP) is ora-pro-nobis, which is a native plant of the Brazilian flora and belongs to the Cactaceae family [1,2]. The flour made from the leaves is higher in protein (about 25 g of protein 100 g−1 ) than other foods such as boiled egg (13 g protein 100 g−1 ), beef (22 g protein 100 g−1 ), oats (13.9 g of protein 100 g−1 ) and carioca beans (4.8 g of protein 100 g−1 ) [3]. This crop is an important source of protein and indicated to the diet of protein-deficient populations
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