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Salicylic acid-induced adaptive response to copper stress in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

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Abstract

The ameliorative effect of salicylic acid (SA: 0.5 mM) on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Cu stress (5 mg l−1) was studied. Excess Cu reduced the fresh and dry weights of different organs (roots, stems and leaves) and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids) in four-week-old plants. There was a considerable increase in Chl a/b ratio and lipid peroxidation in both the roots and leaves of plants under excess Cu. Soluble sugars and free amino acids in the roots also decreased under Cu stress. However, soluble sugars in the leaves, free amino acids in the stems and leaves, and proline content in all plant organs increased in response to Cu toxicity. Salicylic acid (SA) significantly reduced the Chl a/b ratio and the level of lipid peroxidation in Cu-stressed plants. Under excess Cu, a higher accumulation of soluble sugars, soluble proteins and free amino acids including proline occurred in plants treated with 0.5 mM SA. Exogenous application of SA appeared to induce an adaptive response to Cu toxicity including the accumulation of organic solutes leading to protective reactions to the photosynthetic pigments and a reduction in membrane damage in sunflower.

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Abbreviations

SA:

Salicylic acid

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

TBA:

2-Thiobarbituric acid

FR:

Free radical

Chl:

Chlorophyll

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt

    M. A. El-Tayeb & N. L. Ahmed

  2. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    A. E. El-Enany

Authors
  1. M. A. El-Tayeb
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  2. A. E. El-Enany
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  3. N. L. Ahmed
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Correspondence to M. A. El-Tayeb.

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El-Tayeb, M.A., El-Enany, A.E. & Ahmed, N.L. Salicylic acid-induced adaptive response to copper stress in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Plant Growth Regul 50, 191–199 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9118-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9118-2

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