Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.P020
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, P020(2023)
Improving the phytochemical properties of Melissa officinalis L. by elicitation
Maria Stasińska-Jakubas1*, Barbara Hawrylak-Nowak1
1 Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin; Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: maria.jakubas@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Plants as a natural source of substances with broad biological activity have been an essential part of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and agrochemical production for years. However, in order to reconcile growing requirements of the industry with limited plant resources, it is necessary to search for effective methods of increasing their productivity. One of the popular strategies is elicitation, which uses plant defense responses against (a)biotic stress factors to enhance or induce the biosynthesis of desired bioactive compounds. In this study, we applied three elicitors of different origin (chitosan lactate – biotic elicitor, salicylic acid – biotic elicitor from the group of phytohormones, sodium selenite – abiotic elicitor from the group of trace elements) to improve the phytochemical properties of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.). The plants grew in controlled conditions in a phytotron room equipped with air condition and fluorescent lamps at a 14 h photoperiod, at day/night temperature 27/23 °C, and relative humidity of 60–65%. The elicitors were applied twice (10 mL/pot) as a foliar application with concentrations of 0 (control), 100 mg/L chitosan lactate (ChL), 150 mg/L salicylic acid (SA) or 10 mg/L sodium selenite (Se). After 10 days from the first application, physiological and phytochemical parameters were analysed in the plant material. Generally, all of three elicitors used in experiment had a comparatively positive effect on the accumulation of tested polyphenolic compounds (total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, and anthocyanins) in the leaves of lemon balm. A particularly eliciting effect was observed in the concentration of rosmarinic acid (almost three-fold increase). The analysis of the influence of selected elicitors on the ability of the plant extracts to reduce DPPH radical also revealed a significant increase in their antioxidant activity. Additionally, we did not observe any phytotoxic effects – the elicitation did not affect the proper functioning of the PS II photosystem or accumulation of photosynthetic pigments. Therefore, the research results indicate a promising aspect of using ChL, SA and Se solutions as elicitors in vivo and presents basic guidelines for their use in pot cultivation of lemon balm.
How to cite
M. Stasińska-Jakubas, B. Hawrylak-Nowak, 2023. Improving the phytochemical properties of Melissa officinalis L. by elicitation. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.P020