Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationship between boron content and antioxidant compounds in Citrus leaves taken from fields with different water source

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Boron contamination in the agricultural lands is an important problem for Western Turkey, which has rich boron deposits. This study was carried out in Nazilli regions upon orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) plants irrigated with relatively high boron laden channel waters (LCI) and with well waters (LWI) which contain lower amounts of boron. The leaves of the plants irrigated with channel water were found to contain twice the amount of boron compared with those irrigated with well waters. Boron content of leaves in both groups were approximately ten times the boron content in the soil on which they are grown. In the leaves of the plants irrigated with channel waters there were approximately 50% chlorophyll loss and higher chlorophyll a/b and caretonoid/chlorophyll ratios. In the excessive boron containing leaves was found higher soluble protein and carbohydrate contents, but lower determined free proline value. In plants that irrigated with high boron laden channel water significantly lower α-tocopherol content and two fold higher ascorbate concentration were determined. The lower activities of catalase and glutathione reductase enzymes and higher total superoxide dismutase activity were measured in high boron content leaves. The retardation of growth due to boron toxicity can be attributed to the chlorophyll loss and inhibition of the carbohydratemetabolism. Boron at toxic level may cause the cell membrane lipids to be damaged by the free radicals by decreasing the α-tocopherol levels. The increase in the ascorbate concentration may have a vital role in the protection of the inner cell structures against the boron toxicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aebi H E 1983 Catalase. In Methods of enzymatic analysis 3, 273–286. Bergmeyer, J. GraBl, M., Eds. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayars J E, Hutmacher R B, Schoneman R A, Vail S S and Pflaum T 1994 Long term use of saline water for irrigation. Irrigation Sci. 14, 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates L S, Walderen R D and Taere I D 1973 Rapid determination of free proline for water stress studies. Plant Soil 39, 205–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beyer W F and Fridowich I 1987 Assaying for superoxide dismutase activity: Some large consequences of minor changes in conditions. Anal. Biochem. 161, 559–566.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blevins D G and Lukaszewski K M 1998 Boron in plant structure and function. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 49, 481–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowler C, van Montagu M and Inze D. 1992. Superoxide dismutase and stress tolerance. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 43, 83–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown P H and Hu H 1994 Boron uptake by sunflower, squash and cultured tobacco cells. Phsiol. Plant. 91, 435–441.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, P H and Shelp, B J 1997 Boron mobility in plants. Plant Soil 193, 85–101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butterwick L, De Oude N and Raymond K 1989 Safety assessment of boron in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Ecotox. Environ. Safety 17, 339–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlberg I and Mannervik B 1985 Glutathione Reductase. Method. Enzymol. 113, 484–490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan R P S and Power S L 1978 Tolerance of wheat and pea to boron in irrigation water. Plant Soil 50, 145–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conklin P L 2001 Recent advances in the role and biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in plants. Plant Cell Environ. 24, 383–394.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cordoba-Pedregosa M D C, Gonzalez-Reyes J A, Canadillas M D S, Navas P and Cordoba F 1996 Role of apoplastic and cell wall peroxidases on the stimulation of root elongation by ascorbate. Plant Physiol. 112, 1119–1125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Çakmak I and Römheld V 1997 Boron-deficiency induced impairments of cellular functions in plants. Plant Soil 193, 71–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dye M H, Buchanan L, Dorofaeff F D and Beecroft F G 1983 Die back of apricot trees following soil application of boron. New Zeal. J. Exp. Agric. 11, 331–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Motaium R, Hu H and Brown P H 1994 The relative tolerance of six Prunus rootstocks to boron and salinity. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 119, 1169–1175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraris L, Abbatista-Gentile I and Matta A 1987 Variations of phenols concentration as a consequence of stresses that induce resistance to Fusarium wilt of tomato. J. Plant Diseas. Protec. 94: 624–629.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldbach H E, Blaser-Grill J B, Lindemann N, Portzelt M, Hormann C, Lupp B and Gessner B 1991 Influence of boron on net proton release and its relation to other metabolic processes. Plant Soil 193, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halhoul M N and Kleinberg I 1972 Differential determination of glucose -and- fructose yielding substances with anthrone. Anal. Biochem. 50, 337–343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu H and Brown P H 1994 Localization of boron in the cell walls of squash and tobacco and its association with pectin. Plant Physiol. 105, 681–689.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang C and Graham R D 1990 Resistance of wheat genotypes to boron toxicity is expressed at the cellular level. Plant Soil 126, 295–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jame Y W, Nicholaichuk W, Leyshon A J and Cambell C A 1982 Boron concentration in the soil solution under irrigation: A theoretical analysis. Can. J. Soil Sci. 62, 461–470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan B R, He J, Chow W S and Anderson J M 1992 Changes in mRNA levels and polypeptide subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in response to supplementary ultraviolet-B radiation. Plant Cell Environ. 15, 91–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kacar B 1984 Plant Breeding Application Guide. Ankara Univ. Agric. Fac. Ankara/Turkey (printed in Turkish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Keles Y and Öncel I 2002 Response of antioxidative defence system to temperature and water stress combinations in wheat seedlings. Plant Sci. 163, 783–790.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keles Y and Öncel I 2000 Changes of superoxide dismutase activity in wheat seedlings exposed to natural environmental stresses. Commun. Fac. Sc. Univ. Ank. Series C 18, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger U R, Lowatt J C and Albert L S 1987 Metabolic requirements of Cucurbita pepo for boron. Plant Physiol. 83, 254–258.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larson R A 1988 The antioxidants of higher plants. Phytochem. 27, 969–978.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loomis W D and Durst, R W 1992 Chemistry and biology of boron. Biofactors 3, 229–239.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovatt C J and Bates L M 1984 Early effects of excess boron on photosynthesis and growth of Cucurbita pepo. J. Exp. Bot. 35, 297–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry O H, Rosebrough N T, Farr A L and Randall R J 1951 Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol. Chem. 193, 265–275.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mondy N I and Munshi C B 1993 Effect of boron on enzymatic discoloration and phenolic and ascorbic acid contents of potatoes. J. Agr. Food Chem. 41, 554–558.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore T C 1974 Research Experiences in Plant Physiology. Springer-Verlag, New-York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Nable R O, Banuelos G S and Paull J G 1997 Boron toxicity. Plant Soil 198, 181–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nebiler H, Erdogan Y, Olgun A and Yerlikaya C 1999 The effects

  • Njus D and Kelley P M 1991 Vitamins C and E donate single hydrogen atoms in vivo. FEBS Lett. 284, 147–151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oertli J J 1993 The mobility of boron in plants. Plant Soil 155/156, 301–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Öncel I, Keles Y and Üstün AS 2000 Interactive effects of temperature and heavy metal stress on the growth and some biochemical compounds in wheat seedlings. Environ. Pollut. 107, 315–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özkurt S 2000 Boron accumulation in carps tissues (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) in dam lakes Çatoren and Kunduzlar (Kirka - Eskisehir). Turk J. Biol. 24, 663–676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paull J G, Cartwright B and Rathjen A J 1988 Responses of wheat and barley genotypes to toxic concentrations of soil boron. Plant Soil 198, 181–198 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  • Porra R J, Thompson R A and Kriedemann P E 1989 Determination of accurate extinction coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls a and b extracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentration of chlorophyll standards by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 975, 384–394.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Power P P and Woods W G 1997 The chemistry of boron and its speciation in plants. Plant Soil 193, 1–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reinbott T M, Blevins D G and Schon M K 1997 Content of boron and other elements in main stem and branch leaves and seed of soybean. J. Plant Nutr. 20, 831–843.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieden U and Wild A 1994 Changes in levels of α-tocopherol and ascorbate in spruce needles at three low mountain sites exposed to Mg2+ deficiency and ozone. Z Naturforsch C 49, 171–180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schöner S and Krause G H 1990 Protective systems against active oxygen species in spinach: response to cold acclimation in excess light. Planta 180, 383–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith K W and Johnson S L 1976 Borate inhibition of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. Biochemistry 15, 560–565.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toledo J and Spurr J 1984 Plant growth and boron uptake by Lycopersicon esculentum and L. cheesmanii f. minor. Turrialba 34, 111–115.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wimmer M A and Goldbach H E 1999 A miniaturized curcumin method for the determination of boron in solutions and biological samples. J. Plant Nutr. 162, 15–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yokota H and Konishi S 1990 Effect of the formation of a sugar borate complex on the growth inhibition of pollen tubes of Camellia sinensis and cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum by toxic levels of borate. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 36, 275–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Education Faculty, Biology Department, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Yüksel Keles

  2. Science Faculty, Biology Department, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Isil Öncel

  3. Education Faculty, Biology Department, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey

    Nilgün Yenice

Authors
  1. Yüksel Keles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Isil Öncel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nilgün Yenice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yüksel Keles.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Keles, Y., Öncel, I. & Yenice, N. Relationship between boron content and antioxidant compounds in Citrus leaves taken from fields with different water source. Plant Soil 265, 345–353 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-0646-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-0646-8

Key words

Search

Navigation