Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the response of borage (Borago officinalis) phytochemical and morphological attributes in relation to application of different levels of salicylic acid. Borage planted in pots and salicylic acid was sprayed on the shoots at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM with 6 replications in a completely randomized block design. Morphological attributes such as shoot height, shoot dry matter, flower dry matter, flower weight and shoot wet weight were measured. In the other hand, phytochemical attributes such as ion leakage, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, and antioxidant activity were also investigated under induced stress by different concentrations of salicylic acid. Results showed that some morphological traits such as shoot dry matter (31.23%), flower dry matter (20.43%), flower weight (38.54 g), shoot wet weight (109.43 g), possessed the highest values under treatment of 1.5 mM salicylic acid. Also, some phytochemical traits in plants treated with 1.5 mM salicylic acid reached the highest values during the growth stage with the exception of ion leakage (0.54%). These measured traits with higher values consisted of chlorophyll a (4.16 mg.l-1), chlorophyll b (1.65 mg.l-1), total chlorophyll (5.81 mg.l-1), carotenoid (1.18 mg.l-1), antioxidant activity (53.73%).
Highlights
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a herbaceous annual plant belonging to the Boraginaceae family (Janick et al, 1989)
Morphological attributes Plants harvested at full bloom were transferred to laboratory for some morphological attributes record, such as shoot height, shoot wet weight and flower weight
The ANOVA indicated that all measured attributes of borage plant were significantly affected by the different treatments of salicylic acid, with the exception of shoot dry matter
Summary
Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a herbaceous annual plant belonging to the Boraginaceae family (Janick et al, 1989). A recent study proved that the presence of biologically certain active compounds is responsible for the pharmacological activity in dried flowers of borage. It can be valuable source of inflammation removal substances and promotion of skin regeneration, being is effective in treatment of eczema and wounds (Berti et al, 2012; Marzena et al, 2012). Al-Shareif (2006) showed that spraying on Carum carvi plants with salicylic acid at different concentrations significantly increased vegetative growth parameters, including plant height, branch number and herb dry weights/plant, essential oil percentage and oil yield/plant. Fariduddin et al (2003) reported that mustard plants sprayed with low concentrations of salicylic acid produced larger amounts of dry matter and had higher photosynthetic rate in comparison with control plants. The effect of salicylic acid on silymarin; linoleic acid content and lipoxigenase activity in hairy root cultures of Solanum marianium treated with salicylic acid was reported
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