Articles
The effect of foliar application of chitosan on growth and biochemical characteristics of Eruca sativa
Article number
1427_14
Pages
109 – 114
Language
English
Abstract
Chitosan is widely applied as a biostimulant to increase plant growth, abiotic stress tolerance and to induce pathogen resistance.
Nevertheless, the plant response to chitosan treatment is complex, and its effectiveness depends on many factors, e.g., the method of application, dosage, plant species and its developmental stage.
The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of chitosan foliar spray in three concentrations (50, 100 and 150 mg L-1) on growth and some biochemical parameters (the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenolics and phytosterols) of Eruca sativa Mill.
This plant, known as rucola, arugula or rocket salad, is gaining popularity due to its potential health-benefits including antioxidant, immune boosting, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The fresh mass of E. sativa aerial parts harvested at 1 week of post-treatment cultivation decreased slightly (by 8%) after treatment with 50 mg L-1 chitosan, and more significantly (approx. by 30%) after treatment with higher concentrations.
The length of the aerial parts decreased up to 16%, whereas the length of the roots increased up to 30%. The contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids increased by 10 and 9%, respectively, in E. sativa leaves sprayed with 50 mg L-1 chitosan, whereas they decreased by approx. 8 and 12%, respectively, in leaves treated with higher concentrations.
Conversely, the total content of phenolics decreased by 64% after treatment with 50 mg L-1 chitosan, whereas it increased up to 2-fold after treatment with higher concentrations.
The content of phytosterols (comprising brassicasterol, campesterol, isofucosterol, sitosterol and stigmasterol) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner by 1.9-, 2.2- and 2.6-fold after treatment with 50, 100 and 150 mg L-1 chitosan, respectively.
The results revealed that the selection of the applied chitosan concentration is crucial for its effectiveness; however, the plant response to chitosan treatment is not uniform, thus leading to diverse changes in accumulation of various types of metabolites.
Nevertheless, the plant response to chitosan treatment is complex, and its effectiveness depends on many factors, e.g., the method of application, dosage, plant species and its developmental stage.
The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of chitosan foliar spray in three concentrations (50, 100 and 150 mg L-1) on growth and some biochemical parameters (the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenolics and phytosterols) of Eruca sativa Mill.
This plant, known as rucola, arugula or rocket salad, is gaining popularity due to its potential health-benefits including antioxidant, immune boosting, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The fresh mass of E. sativa aerial parts harvested at 1 week of post-treatment cultivation decreased slightly (by 8%) after treatment with 50 mg L-1 chitosan, and more significantly (approx. by 30%) after treatment with higher concentrations.
The length of the aerial parts decreased up to 16%, whereas the length of the roots increased up to 30%. The contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids increased by 10 and 9%, respectively, in E. sativa leaves sprayed with 50 mg L-1 chitosan, whereas they decreased by approx. 8 and 12%, respectively, in leaves treated with higher concentrations.
Conversely, the total content of phenolics decreased by 64% after treatment with 50 mg L-1 chitosan, whereas it increased up to 2-fold after treatment with higher concentrations.
The content of phytosterols (comprising brassicasterol, campesterol, isofucosterol, sitosterol and stigmasterol) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner by 1.9-, 2.2- and 2.6-fold after treatment with 50, 100 and 150 mg L-1 chitosan, respectively.
The results revealed that the selection of the applied chitosan concentration is crucial for its effectiveness; however, the plant response to chitosan treatment is not uniform, thus leading to diverse changes in accumulation of various types of metabolites.
Publication
Authors
M. Ruszczyńska, C. Pączkowski, A. Szakiel
Keywords
biostimulation, chitosan, Eruca sativa Mill., carotenoids, chlorophyll, phytosterols
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