Adaptation of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. to water deficiency based on carbohydrate and fatty acid quantity and quality

Abstract

Water deficit affects agricultural systems negatively globally. This research objective was to mitigate drought’s detrimental effects on plants metabolite profiling by utilizing biofertilizers and mineral nutrition. The carbohydrate content and fatty acid profile of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) were assessed under Silicon (Si) nutrition, Claroiedoglomus etunicatum inoculation (F), and drought stress (100, 80, 60, 40, and 20% of field capacity (FC)). Results showed that Si application increased total sugar content under severe drought levels (20 and 40% FC) and made it reach 12.41 and 12.63 g/100 g DW, respectively. Sucrose, as the predominant sugar of licorice, was at its highest level (13.1 g/100 g DW) in response to integrated values of F and Si (60% FC). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed that the majority of fatty acid components in plants were 9-Octadecenoic acid (8.72–71.27%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (0.1–56.43%), Hexadecanoic acid (12.84–30.59%), Octadecanoic acid (6.9–15.3%), Docosanoic acid (0.57–2.77%), Eicosanoic acid (1.07–2.64%), and 7-Hexadecenoic acid (0.26–2.62%). Since a lower omega6/omega3 ratio represents a healthier product, the lowest ratio (0.25%) was observed in well-watered inoculated plants. Also, severe drought-treated plants under integrated Si and F applications showed a low omega6/omega3 ratio (1.88%). In conclusion, Si and F improved synergistically the carbohydrate content and fatty acid profile in plants, despite the drought stress.

Microbial inoculants alter resilience towards drought stress in wheat plants

“…A decline in rainfall and an increasing frequency of dry spells are contributing to drought stress (Jarrett et al 2023). As a consequence, about 45% of agricultural elds are experiencing continuous drought conditions (Yadav et al 2020) that eventually negatively affect plant growth by decreasing transpiration and photosynthesis rates (Naservafaei et al 2023), osmolytes (Haghighi et al 2023) and nutrient uptake (Shah et al 2023). Under drought stress, plants face the problem of increased electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (Yu et al 2023).…”

A comprehensive model for predicting the development of defense system of Capparis spinosa L.: a novel approach to assess the physiological indices

“…Further, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), hydroxyl radical (OH - ), superoxide radical (O 2 - ), and singlet oxygen (O 1 - ) increases under stress conditions which leads to the enhancement of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant 17 . It is argued that accumulating the higher concentrations of osmotic solutes and greater activity of antioxidant enzymes in plants can increase the plant's adaptability to stress conditions 18 . A large number of studies have focused on the higher activity of the antioxidant defense system which occurred under environmental stresses 17 , 19 – 21 .…”

“…As a result, the content of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant and photosynthetic pigments is an important biochemical indicator for evaluating a plant's stress tolerance, despite the fact that only one study looked at the possible link and mechanism between the antioxidant defense system and the pigments content of stressed plants 24 . Statistical techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), correlation coefficient, stepwise regression modelling, and path analysis are currently very useful in determining possible relationships between inter-correlated variables and understanding the possible morphophysiological and biochemical mechanisms of plant tolerance to salinity stress 1 , 18 , 21 , 23 .…”