L-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) affects rooting potential and associated biochemical changes in hypocotyl of mung bean, and inhibits mitotic activity in onion root tips

Abstract

A study was undertaken to explore the effect of l-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) on the rooting potential of hypocotyl cuttings of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb. var. SML-32) and related biochemical changes at the post-expression phase. At lower concentrations of (0.0001–0.1 mM) l-DOPA, there was no change in rooting potential, though the average number of roots per cutting and root length were significantly decreased (except at 0.0001 mM). However, at 1.0 mM concentration, a 50% inhibition in rooting potential was noticed and the root number and length were severely reduced. In contrast, at 2.5 mM l-DOPA, none of the hypocotyl cutting rooted. The decrease in rooting potential was associated with a significant effect on the biochemical changes measured in terms of protein and carbohydrate metabolism and activity of peroxidases. In the l-DOPA treated hypocotyl cuttings, there was a significant reduction in the protein and carbohydrate content, whereas activities of associated enzymes proteases and amylases decreased, particularly at higher treatment concentration (>1.0 mM). It indicated negative effect of l-DOPA on these two important metabolic processes. Likewise, activity of peroxidases also decreased in the l-DOPA treated hypocotyl mung bean cuttings thereby indicating its role in suppressing rhizogenesis as the enzyme is involved in lignification process during cell division. l-DOPA suppressed mitotic activity in the root tip cells of onion indicating thereby its interference with the cell division, which is required for the formation of new meristematic tissue during rhizogenesis. Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that l-DOPA interferes with the various biochemical processes in the mung bean hypocotyl cuttings thereby affecting their rooting potential.