A Plant Based Modified Biostimulant (Copper Chlorophyllin), Mediates Defense Response in Arabidopsis thaliana under Salinity Stress

Abstract

To date, managing salinity stress in agriculture relies heavily on development of salt tolerant plant varieties, a time-consuming process particularly challenging for many crops. Plant based biostimulants (PBs) that enhance plant defenses under stress can potentially address this drawback, as they are not crop specific and are easy to apply in the field. Unfortunately, limited knowledge about their modes of action makes it harder to utilize them on a broader scale. Understanding how PBs enhance plant defenses at cellular and molecular levels, is a prerequisite for the development of sustainable management practices utilizing biostimulants to improve crop health. In this study we elucidated the protective mechanism of copper chlorophyllin (Cu-chl), a PB, under salinity stress. Our results indicate that Cu-chl exerts protective effects primarily by decreasing oxidative stress through modulating cellular H2O2 levels. Cu-chl treated plants increased tolerance to oxidative stress imposed by an herbicide, methyl viologen dichloride hydrate as well, suggesting a protective role against various sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RNA-Seq analysis of Cu-chl treated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings subjected to salt stress identified genes involved in ROS detoxification, and cellular growth.

Plant Nutrition: An Effective Way to Alleviate Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops

“…Cu-chl has been shown to be protective against the effects of drought stress in tomatoes, where the frequent application of Cu-chl-containing materials improved the activity of leaf antioxidant enzymes as well as GSH concentration [ 249 ]. Islam et al [ 250 ] reported other functions of Cu-chl with respect to the development of tolerance against high salinity stress in A. thaliana . Soil salinity significantly decreases RWC with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation, total phenolics and cell membrane permeability.…”

Use of a Biostimulant to Mitigate Salt Stress in Maize Plants

“…Given the diverse and varied nature of the starting materials from which biostimulants can be obtained, they have been grouped into seaweed extracts, plant extracts, vegetal and animal protein hydrolysate, microorganisms, and humic and fulvic substances [16,17]. Some recent studies have also pointed out as biostimulants of various origins can improve the resistance of diverse plants to salt stress thanks to the upregulation of genes involved in stress tolerance, the improvement of nutrient uptake and pigments production, or decreasing oxidative stress [18,19].…”

A Review of Recent Advances and Future Directions in the Management of Salinity Stress in Finger Millet

“…Bioeffectors (biostimulants), compounds of biological origin that are applied to embellish nutrient uptake, stimulate growth and enhance stress tolerance or quality traits of crops ( Van Oosten et al, 2017 ), through stimulation of the plant’s metabolic and defense mechanisms. Exogenous application of several bioeffectors such as copper chlorophyllin (Cu-chl), a semi-synthetic water-soluble chlorophyll derivative ( Islam et al, 2021 ), Moringa oleifera leaf extract ( Desoky et al, 2018 ), and Ascophyllum nodosum extracts ( Dell’Aversana et al, 2021 ) have been shown to enhance salinity stress tolerance in A. thaliana , sorghum, and tomato, respectively. Plant-based bioeffectors therefore form part of the sustainable approach to enhance salt stress tolerance in crops and could potentially address breeding handicaps, as they are versatile and are easy to apply in the field.…”