Effect of salinity on glandular trichomes density, phenolic and flavonoid contents of Morus spp. accessions leaves from Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract The density of glandular trichomes and metabolite compounds in plants can increase under salt stress. Information about the glandular trichomes density described tolerance to salt stress however, there is no information about it in mulberry. This study aimed to obtain accessions of mulberry that are tolerant to NaCl concentrations based on cystolith trichome density, glandular trichome density, and phenolic and flavonoid content. Mulberry stem cuttings were planted using a factorial randomized block design with 3 replications. The first treatment used was seven mulberry accessions, which come from 5 regions in Indonesia (Bali, Makassar, Pati, Situbondo, and Bogor), and the second was the NaCl concentration (0.0%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%). The results showed that the highest cystolith trichomes density was obtained in M2 accession (32.5 cells/mm2 from the highest NaCl concentration). The highest density of the glandular trichomes was obtained in the M4 accession (50 cells/mm2 from the highest NaCl concentration). The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were obtained in the M4 accession (154.6 mg GAE/g extract for 0.3% concentration of NaCl) and M2 accession (619.56 mg QE/g extract for the highest concentration of NaCl), respectively. The study concluded that the M2 (accession from Bogor) is tolerant to salt stress.