Effects of salt applications on root growth and secondary metabolite production in madder (Rubia tinctorum) root cultures
Nilgun Gokturk Baydar, Ozlem Aras Asci and Tunhan Demirci
Suleyman Demirel University, Turkey
: J Plant Physiol Pathol
Abstract
Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) is a perennial herbaceous plant, its roots and rhizomes are very rich in anthraquinones used excessively in carpet, rug and textile as natural dye source. Additionally, this dye is used in food industry because of their resistance against hot and light. They have also anticancer, antimalarial, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Phenolic compounds are another unique metabolite group for cosmeceuticals, foods and pharmaceutical industries. The increased interest to natural metabolites these days caused to use alternative techniques to get them with high quality and quantity. Root cultures are an important in vitro technique especially for root-derived metabolites. In order to increase the metabolite synthesis in in vitro conditions, elicitor applications could have been done effectively. Salinity is an important stress factor influencing growth and secondary metabolite metabolism in plants. This study was carried out to determine the effect of salt on root growth and secondary metabolite accumulation in madder. For this aim, madder roots obtained from stem explants in in vitro conditions were used as plant materials. Roots were cultured in MS medium containing different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm) for seven days. Then roots were evaluated in terms of root growth index, total anthraquinones, alizarin, purpurin and total phenolic contents. At the end of the study, it was determined that root growth decreased in line with the elevating level of NaCl while secondary metabolite accumulation increased with NaCl applications compared to the controls.
Biography
Email: nilgungbaydar@sdu.edu.tr
