Piperonylic acid alters growth, mineral content accumulation and reactive oxygen species-scavenging capacity in chia seedlings

Mbukeni Nkomo; Arun Gokul; Roya Ndimba; Mihlali Badiwe; Marshall Keyster; Ashwil Klein

doi:10.1093/aobpla/plac025

Piperonylic acid alters growth, mineral content accumulation and reactive oxygen species-scavenging capacity in chia seedlings

AoB Plants. 2022 May 26;14(3):plac025. doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plac025. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Authors

Mbukeni Nkomo¹, Arun Gokul², Roya Ndimba³, Mihlali Badiwe¹, Marshall Keyster⁴, Ashwil Klein¹

Affiliations

¹ Plant Omics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Life Science Building, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7530, South Africa.
² Department of Plant Sciences, Qwaqwa Campus, University of the Free State, Phuthadithjaba 9866, South Africa.
³ Radiation Biophysics Division, Ithemba LABS (Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences), Nuclear Medicine Department, National Research Foundation, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
⁴ Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Life Science Building, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7530, South Africa.

Abstract

p-Coumaric acid synthesis in plants involves the conversion of phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid via phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), which is then hydroxylated at the para-position under the action of trans-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase. Alternatively, some PAL enzymes accept tyrosine as an alternative substrate and convert tyrosine directly to p-coumaric acid without the intermediary of trans-cinnamic acid. In recent years, the contrasting roles of p-coumaric acid in regulating the growth and development of plants have been well-documented. To understand the contribution of trans-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase activity in p-coumaric acid-mediated plant growth, mineral content accumulation and the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we investigated the effect of piperonylic acid (a trans-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase inhibitor) on plant growth, essential macroelements, osmolyte content, ROS-induced oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activities and phytohormone levels in chia seedlings. Piperonylic acid restricted chia seedling growth by reducing shoot length, fresh weight, leaf area measurements and p-coumaric acid content. Apart from sodium, piperonylic acid significantly reduced the accumulation of other essential macroelements (such as K, P, Ca and Mg) relative to the untreated control. Enhanced proline, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents were observed. The inhibition of trans-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase activity significantly increased the enzymatic activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase. In addition, piperonylic acid caused a reduction in indole-3-acetic acid and salicylic acid content. In conclusion, the reduction in chia seedling growth in response to piperonylic acid may be attributed to a reduction in p-coumaric acid content coupled with elevated ROS-induced oxidative damage, and restricted mineral and phytohormone (indole-3-acetic acid and salicylic) levels.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; chia; osmolytes; piperonylic acid; reactive oxygen species.