The effect of methyl jasmonate and phenolic acids on growth of seedlings and accumulation of anthocyanins in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)

Marcin Horbowicz,Danuta Koczkodaj,Marian Saniewski,Halina Mioduszewska

doi:10.5586/aa.2009.006

Marcin Horbowicz, Danuta Koczkodaj + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.2009.006

Copy DOI

Abstract

The effect of methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) and phenolic acids: trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), salicylic acid (SA) as well as naringenine (NAR) on growth of seedlings and accumulation of anthocyanins in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) were studied. JA-Me and phenolics were applied to growth medium of 4-days etiolated buckwheat seedlings before their exposition to day/night (16h/8h) conditions. The increase of primary roots and hypocotyls length were measured after 3 days of seedling growth in such conditions. At the end of experiment the total anthocyanins contents were measured as well. Methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) and trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA) inhibited growth of the primary root in young buckwheat seedlings, while naringenine (NAR) had a stimulatory influence, and p-coumaric acid had no effect at all. None of investigated phenolics or JA-Me had an effect on the growth of buckwheat hypocotyls, except the mixture of JA-Me and p-coumarcic acid. JA-Me significantly decreased the anthocyanins level in buckwheat hypocototyls, but not in cotyledons. trans-Cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid and naringenine had no significant influence on the anthocyanin level in hypocotyls and cotyledons of buckwheat seedlings. Simultaneous treatment of buckwheat seedlings with JA-Me and t-CA or p-CA did not change the inhibition of anthocyanins accumulation in buckwheat hypocotyls by JA-Me. In the hypocotyls of buckwheat treated with a mixture of JA-Me and NAR, or SA, a synergistic reduction of anthocyanins was observed.

Highlights

Phenolic compounds are some of the most widespread molecules among plant secondary metabolites, and are of great significance in plant development
The primary root of wild-type Arabidopsis grown on agar medium was inhibited in 50% after treatment by 0.1 micromole of JA-Me (Staswick et al 1992) On the other hand, jasmonic acid does not cause retardation of leaf emergence in broad bean (Dathe et al 1981)
None of the investigated phenolics or JA-Me had an influence on the growth of buckwheat hypocotyls, except for the mixture of JA-Me and p-coumarcic acid

Summary

Introduction

Phenolic compounds are some of the most widespread molecules among plant secondary metabolites, and are of great significance in plant development. The synthesis and release of phenolics are induced by various biotic and abiotic factors. Pathogen attack, herbivory, and infection by microsymbionts, such as rhizobium, can cause synthesis and release of phenolics (Makoi and Ndakidemi , 2007). Phenolic acids in soil can have an allelopathic effect on other plants, inhibiting their growth (Hartley and Whitehead , 1985). There is a hypothesis that phenolic acids may play a role of modulators of hormonal activity. According to studies by Hampton and Oosterhuis (1990), the level of phenolic acids in cotton fruit was related to abscission, sensitivity to environmental stress, ethylene evolution, and abscisic acid concentration of fruits

Methods

Results

Conclusion