Abstract
AbstractAdenanthera pavonina is a medicinal species, which economic value depends on the richness of its phytocompounds. Extreme climatic conditions are becoming frequent worldwide, but despite their impact on plant productivity these weather events also modulate plants’ metabolism increasing the production of important phytocompounds. We aimed to characterize the physiological and metabolite adjustments in A. pavonina leaves induced by drought and UV-B radiation. Plants were exposed to drought (DS), UV-B radiation (UV-B), and drought + UV-B (DS + UV-B), and photosynthesis, lipophilic metabolites, and antioxidant status were evaluated. The stress conditions compromised the photosynthetic performance and induced oxidative stress (DS and UV-B plants). However, plants activated protective mechanisms (increased antioxidant activity and flavonoids in all treatments, total phenols in DS and DS + UV-B, and catechols in UV-B and DS + UV-B) and modulated their lipophilic profiles (accumulation of fatty acids and TCA cycle-related metabolites, and reduction of carbohydrates) to cope with the stress. We demonstrate for the first time that DS and UV-B radiation can enrich A. pavonina leaves with antioxidants and fatty acids increasing their medicinal value.
Funder
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
Universidade de Coimbra
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Plant Science,Agronomy and Crop Science,Physiology
Reference50 articles.
1. Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Strong MT (2012) Catalogue of the seed plants of the west Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, p 1192
2. Agati G, Azzarello E, Pollastri S, Tattini M (2012) Flavonoids as antioxidants in plants: location and functional significance. P Sci 196:67–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.07.014
3. Araújo M, Santos C, Costa M, Moutinho-Pereira J, Correia C, Dias MC (2016) Plasticity of young Moringa oleifera L. plants to face water deficit and UVB radiation challenges. J Photo Photobiol b: Biol 162:278–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.06.048
4. Bhattacharya S, Kundu A (2020) Sugars and sugar polyols in overcoming environmental stresses. In: Roychoudhury A, Tripathi DK (eds) Protective chemical agents in the amelioration of plant abiotic stress: biochemical and molecular perspectives. Wiley Online Library
5. Brito C, Gonçalves A, Silva E, Martins S, Pinto L, Rocha L, Arrobas M, Rodrigues AA, Moutino-Pereira J, Correia C (2021) Kaolin foliar spray improves olive tree performance and yield under sustained deficit irrigation. Sci Hort 277:109795–109795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109795