Potential effect of zinc application on chlorophyll stability and metabolic status in Moringa oleifera Lam. under salinity stress conditions

Document Type : Regular issue (Original Article)

Authors

1 Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Egypt.

2 Botany and Microbiology , Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science-Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Recently, M. oleifera has been given attention for cultivation in arid and semi-arid lands not only as a drought tolerant plant, but also for its tremendous nutritional and medical benefits. Many problems such as water scarce, salinity and microelements deficiency faced the cultivation of the economic plants in desert lands. This work aimed to study the effects of zinc on the chlorophyll content, chlorophyll thermostability and main metabolic compounds, in moringa under reduced osmotic water potential. Healthy seedlings were incubated in hydroponic solution containing different zinc concentrations and osmotic water potential (ѱs) levels. Obtained data indicated that the chlorophyll content and its thermostability (CSI) were high under moderate levels of ѱs and zinc. Differences between fresh and heated chlorophyll a/b ratios were positive in most treatments, with some exceptions. Statistically, the chlorophyll content and CSI were strongly affected by ѱs, and the ѱs × Zn interaction had a subdominant effect, whereas the opposite was true for chlorophyll b. Additionally, the same effect of ѱs and ѱs × Zn was true for the main metabolic compounds. Zn had a subdominant effect on soluble proteins and free amino acids in Moringa. Zn has a crucial role in the function and efficiency of chlorophylls and its thermo-stability under salinity stress. Commonly, Zn improved the adjustment and increased hydrolytic enzyme activity, in water-stressed roots. Also, Zn addition is helpful in enzyme activities concerned with the metabolism of some osmolytes and proteins under drastic conditions. The correlations between chlorophyll parameters and metabolic compounds are discussed.

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