Application of Exogenous Ascorbic Acid Modifies Growth and Pigment Content of Calendula officinalis L. Flower Heads of Plants Exposed to NaCl Stress

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effects of the exogenous application of ascorbic acid (ASA) on the growth and pigment content of Calendula officinalis L. flower heads under salinity stress. A pot experiment performed as a 5 × 3 × 4 factorial based on a completely randomized design (CRD) to evaluate the response of marigold to ASA foliar application (0, 3, and 6 mM) under five salinity levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl). ASA foliar application on plant growth parameters, carotenoid, total phenolic, total flavonoids, flavonol content, the antioxidant activity of the flower heads, proline content of leaves, cell membrane injury, and water content under salinity stress investigated. The results indicated that ASA and NaCl levels had significant effects on all studied characteristics, and ASA application was practical to mitigate the adverse effect of NaCl stress. By increasing NaCl levels, the growth, dry matter, carotenoid, flavonoid, and flavonol contents of marigold flowers were decreased; these characteristics increased by ASA application (especially 6 mM). While by increasing NaCl, the proline and total phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, and cell membrane injury increased, and these traits decreased by using ASA. At the highest NaCl concentration (100 mM), application of 6 mM ASA increased total dry biomass, dry matter of flower, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content of the flower by 51.11%, 2.71%, 1.63%, 31.5%, and 1.65%, respectively. Whereas by using 6 mM ASA at 100 mM NaCl concentration, antioxidant activity, proline content, and cell membrane injury decreased by 2.51%, 33.34%, and 6.17%, respectively. Therefore, using 6 mM, ASA had more effective influences than 3 mM. Foliar ASA spraying enhanced secondary metabolites of marigold. Also, ASA application helped the plants resistant to salt stress by several mechanisms, including increasing proline and cell membrane stability.

Using Some Organic Substances to Alleviate Deleterious Impacts of Soil Salinity on Fennel Plant

“…The abovementioned results were confirmed during the two successive seasons. Similar favorable effects on plant growth due to the organic applications of (AsA) were noticed by Nassar et al (2019) on basil plant, Azizi et al (2021) on Calendula officinalis L., Hassan et al (2021) on Hordeum vulgare L., and Novita et al (2022) on Vetiveria zizanioides L. However, the results for CAA are as stated with those reported by Junxi et al (2010) on Chinese cabbage, Mohammadipour and Souri (2019) on Coriandrum sativum L., and Ahmed et al (2020) on borage plant. However, these results for Com are in harmony with those reported by Abo-Kora and Mohsen (2016) on basil plant, and Golijan and Marković (2018) on fennel plant.…”

Identification of biochemical indices for brown spot (Bipolaris oryzae) disease resistance in rice mutants and hybrids

“…Vitamin C, functions as a non-enzymatic antioxidant and facilitates the movement of electrons by scavenging ROS and regenerating the antioxidant form of vitamin E [ 72 , 73 ]. One of the effective antioxidants against various stressors in plants, particularly in Oryza sativa , is AsA [ 74 , 75 ]. In the study, low content of AsA was detected in Hy-AS-103 genotype which is resistant to brown spot disease.…”

Effect of selected elicitors on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) sprouts obtained from seeds cultivated using the hydroponics technology

“…Total carotenoids in buckwheat sprouts were determined by the method described by Azizi et al . (2021).…”