Effect of coronatine on morphological and biochemical traits of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in arsenic contamination condition

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D Graduated of Horticultural Science, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

4 Ph.D Graduated of Horticultural Science, Invited Researcher, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

5 Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

6 Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

7 Ph.D Student of Horticultural Science, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most important species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, with diverse applications in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Recently, heavy metal pollution has been considered a major stress factor responsible for reducing plant growth and agricultural productivity worldwide. These pollutants are harmful to the environment and to living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. The rapid growth of the global population, industrialization, and the expansion of mining and metal ore processing have contributed to the widespread distribution of heavy metal pollution worldwide. Human activities, including mining, agricultural expansion, intensive use of pesticides and herbicides, and irrigation with heavy metal–contaminated water, further exacerbate soil contamination. Among heavy metals, arsenic is particularly concerning due to its high toxicity and destructive effects on the environment and living organisms. Arsenic is a non-essential and highly toxic element for plants. It is readily absorbed by plants, where exposure to arsenate (AsV) inhibits growth, disrupts physiological processes, and may ultimately lead to plant death. Inside plant cells, AsV can enter essential metabolic pathways, such as oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis, by substituting for phosphate groups. One promising strategy to mitigate heavy metal stress is the application of newly identified plant growth regulators such as coronatine. Coronatine, a phytotoxin with broad host specificity, functions as a potent signaling molecule with diverse physiological roles in plants.
 
Materials and methods
This experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications in 2016. The experimental factors consisted of two soil conditions (non-contaminated and arsenic-contaminated, with 0 and 4576 mg kg⁻¹ arsenic, respectively) and three coronatine foliar-spray concentrations (0, 50, and 100 nmol L⁻¹) applied to basil plants. After seed emergence, the seedlings were thinned in several stages, and ultimately ten uniform plants were retained in each pot, spaced approximately 2–3 cm apart. Coronatine (C₁₈H₂₅NO₄; 319.401 g mol⁻¹; Sigma, Japan) was sprayed at concentrations of 0, 50, and 100 nmol L⁻¹ at the 4–6 leaf stage until the leaves were fully wetted. To evaluate the effects of arsenic stress, coronatine application, and their interaction on basil, three plants were randomly selected from each experimental unit at the full flowering stage (approximately 80 days after planting), and various morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits were measured.
 
Results and discussion
The results showed that arsenic contamination significantly decreased morphological traits of sweet basil, including leaf number, leaf area, leaf dry weight, and stem height, compared with the non-contaminated soil. Moreover, coronatine application improved all morphological and biochemical traits of sweet basil under both arsenic-contaminated and non-contaminated soil conditions. Arsenic stress decreased leaf number, leaf area, leaf dry weight, and plant height in plants grown in contaminated soil compared with those grown in non-contaminated soil. Arsenic stress also reduced physiological traits, including chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC). In contrast, foliar application of coronatine enhanced growth and improved both physiological and biochemical performance under arsenic stress. In particular, application of 100 nmol L⁻¹ coronatine increased leaf dry weight, plant height, and RWC by 35%, 32%, and 33%, respectively. Moreover, biochemical traits were affected by both arsenic stress and coronatine foliar application, such that proline, phenol, and flavonoids increased by 91%, 95%, and 94% in arsenic-contaminated soil treated with 100 nmol L⁻¹ coronatine compared with the non-contaminated and non-sprayed control. Overall, these findings indicate that coronatine, as an effective plant growth regulator, has substantial potential to mitigate the detrimental effects of arsenic toxicity in plants. Nevertheless, further studies on other plant species and a wider range of coronatine concentrations are recommended.
 
Conclusion
Coronatine can be proposed as a promising plant growth regulator capable of alleviating the adverse effects of arsenic contamination in sweet basil and potentially other vegetable crops.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

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  • Receive Date: 28 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 19 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 01 December 2024

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