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Salicylic acid alleviates NaCl-induced changes in the metabolism of Matricaria chamomilla plants

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Abstract

Influence of 100 mM NaCl and 50 μM salicylic acid (SA) and their combination on the metabolism of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) during 7 days was studied. NaCl reduced growth and selected physiological parameters and SA in combined treatment (NaCl + SA) reversed majority of these symptoms. Application of SA reduced NaCl-induced increase of Na+ in the rosettes, but not in the roots. Accumulation of total amino acids was stimulated in NaCl-treated roots, especially due to exceptional increase of proline (4.4-fold). Among phenolic acids, accumulation of protocatechuic acid was the most enhanced in NaCl-exposed leaf rosettes (ca. 3-fold) while chlorogenic and caffeic acids in the roots (2.4- and 2.8-fold, respectively). Total soluble phenols increased after NaCl and SA treatments, but root lignin content was not affected. Activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and shikimate dehydrogenase increased in response to NaCl, but cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase was not affected and polyphenol oxidase decreased. Stress parameters were elevated by NaCl treatment (superoxide radical and malondialdehyde content, activities of catalase, ascorbate- and guaiacol-peroxidase) and substantially prevented by SA, while accumulation of hydrogen peroxide decreased. Overall, SA showed strong beneficial properties against NaCl-induced negative symptoms. Protective effect of SA was the most visible at the level of guaiacol-peroxidase and through amelioration of stress parameters and mineral nutrient contents.

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Abbreviations

CAD:

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase

DW:

Dry weight

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

PPO:

Polyphenol oxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SKDH:

Shikimate dehydrogenase

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GA ČR 521/02/1367) and partially by the grant of Šafárik University rector for young scientists (to JK, no. VVGS 1/09-10). The authors are grateful to Mrs. Anna Michalčová and BSc. František Štork for their excellent technical assistance and to Prof. Dianne Fahselt (University of Western Ontario, Canada) for proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Mánesova 23, 041 67, Kosice, Slovak Republic

    Jozef Kováčik & Martin Bačkor

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Bořivoj Klejdus & Josef Hedbavny

Authors
  1. Jozef Kováčik
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  2. Bořivoj Klejdus
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  3. Josef Hedbavny
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  4. Martin Bačkor
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Correspondence to Jozef Kováčik.

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Kováčik, J., Klejdus, B., Hedbavny, J. et al. Salicylic acid alleviates NaCl-induced changes in the metabolism of Matricaria chamomilla plants. Ecotoxicology 18, 544–554 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0312-7

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