Parameters Symptomatic for Boron Toxicity in Leaves of Tomato Plants

Abstract

The incidence of boron (B) toxicity has risen in areas of intensive agriculture close to the Mediterranean sea. The objective of this research was to study the how B toxicity (0.5 and 2 mM B) affects the time course of different indicators of abiotic stress in leaves of two tomato genotypes having different sensitivity to B toxicity (cv. Kosaco and cv. Josefina). Under the treatments of 0.5 and 2 mM B, the tomato plants showed a loss of biomass and foliar area. At the same time, in the leaves of both cultivars, the B concentration increased rapidly from the first day of the experiment. These results were more pronounced in the cv. Josefina, indicating greater sensitivity than in cv. Kosaco with respect to excessive B in the environment. The levels of O2 •− and anthocyanins presented a higher correlation coefficient (r>0.9) than did the levels of B in the leaf, followed by other indicators of stress, such as GPX, chlorophyll b and proline (r>0.8). Our results indicate that these parameters could be used to evaluate the stress level as well as to develop models that could help prevent the damage inflicted by B toxicity in tomato plants.

Oxidant and antioxidant compounds, gas exchange and growth of young Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum plants under high boron and calcium concentrations

“…In agreement with Nisar et al (2015), this pigment has an essential role in photoprotection, in which this protects the photosynthetic apparatus. These results corroborate the study of Cervilla et al (2012) when studied the B effect in Solanum lycopersicum plants and Danieli et al (2002) working with Diospyros kaki plants under high Ca.…”

Ecological Potential of Plants for Phytoremediation and Ecorestoration of Fly Ash Deposits and Mine Wastes

“…Similarly, chlorophyls and carotenoids content decreased in leaves of Lolium perenne growing on the soil where fly ash was added (Lopareva-Pohu et al, 2011). Small content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in plant leaves indicates that the photosynthetic pigments are sensitive to stress factors that prevail on fly ash, such as high temperature, drought, toxic concentrations of As, B, Cd, Cr, Pb, and the small amount of Cu, Mn, and Zn in leaves (Hajibold and Amirazad, 2010;Cervilla et al, 2012;Gajić et al, 2016). However, displacement of Mg in the structure of chlorophyll molecule with toxic metal(loid) ions due to similar chemical properties reduces its activity and leads to the non-functional molecule (Van Assche and Clijsters, 1990).…”

Oxidative stress responses in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) as influenced by boron toxicity and drought

“…Therefore, a dominant-stress-factor model of Liebig-Sperngel might validate decreased growth rate of watermelon plants with increasing B dosages in the present work (Ben-Gal, Shani, 2002). Cervilla et al (2012) reported that a boron-sensitive tomato cultivar 'Josefina' showed a sharp decline in the biomass and leaf area on 10 days treatment of 0.5 mM B.…”