Evaluation of the glycine betaine and salicylic acid spraying on the destructive effects of drought stress on Indigo medicinal plant

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Graduate, Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 Corresponding Author, Associate Prof., Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

3 Assistant Prof., Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Agriculture Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria L.) is a forgotten plant that has many therapeutic properties such as antibacterial, antiallergic, liver protector and antioxidant. Solutions that can reduce the effects of late season drought in plants can be very beneficial. The use of biological stimulant is one of the efficient methods to adjust biological stresses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salicylic acid and glycine betaine elicitors at different irrigation levels on some morphological and phytochemical indicators of Indigo plant.
Materials and Methods: Indigo seeds was bought from Sabzineh Gostar Company, Chabahar. Then, it was grown in 1 Kg plastic pots containing a mixture soil of cocopeat: perlite: garden soil (with a ratio of 1:1:1). Then the pots were placed in the Phytotron device with night temperature of 22°C, daytime temperature of 28°C, 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with 15 treatments and three replications. The treatments examined in this research include irrigation at three levels of 50, 75, and 100% of crop capacity as the first factor and stimulants of salicylic acid (at two levels of 2 and 4 mM) and glycine betaine (at two levels of 50 and 100 mM) along with control (spraying with distilled water) was as the second factor. Irrigation treatments were applied after the plants entered the four-leaf stage based on the agricultural capacity of the soil and by weight method. The agricultural capacity of pot soil was calculated by weight method with the help of moisture meter (TDR). Foliage treatments with stimulants (salicylic acid and glycine betaine) were performed at the 4-leaf stage. After one growing season, morphological parameters such as plant height, number of branches, wet and dry weight of plant, root length and root weight were measured. The amount of photosynthetic pigments was measured with Arnon method, by spectrophotometer approach. The anthocyanin content of leaves was measured by acid methanol method. Proline content was also determined by Bates method with the help of ninhydrin reagent. The total phenolic content was measured by Folin Ciocaltio reagent, the total flavonoid content was measured by aluminum chloride colorimetric method, and the antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH free radical inhibition assay.
Results: The results showed that reducing irrigation (50% FC) reduced plant height, number of branches, plant fresh and dry weight, root length and root weight, chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin and flavonoid. on the other handand, increased proline, phenol and antioxidant activity. Foliar spraying of glycine betaine and salicylic acid increased the above parameters under normal and water deficit conditions. The positive effect of glycine betaine, especially the concentration of 100 mM, was higher compared to the positive effect of salicylic acid. The interaction effect of irrigation and stimuli showed that the highest height (1.6 cm), dry weight of plant (73.47 grams per plant), root length (8.75 cm), chlorophyll a (10.8) mg/g) and carotenoid (0.53 mg/g) was obtained with 100 mM glycine betaine treatment in 100% crop capacity irrigation and the highest amount of phenol (294.3 mg/g of gallic acid) and antioxidant activity (68.47%) was achieved with 100 mM glycine betaine treatment in 75% FC irrigation regime.
Conclusion: According to the results of the present research, glycine betaine and salicylic acid, especially glycine betaine at a concentration of 100 mM, can act as a suitable stimulus to increase growth, produce secondary metabolites of the Indigo plant and deal with low negative effects of droght stess should be suggested.

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