Differential Tolerance and Phenolic Leaf Profile in Response to Boron Supply in Two Highbush Blueberry Genotypes

Abstract

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is beneficial for human health due to its bioactive properties. Agronomic management includes boron (B) addition to promote its growth and development. We aimed to provide new insights into the effects of B supply on the phenolic profile and antioxidative capacity in the leaves of two common cultivars, Brigitta and Legacy. Seedlings of Brigitta and Legacy were supplied with different B concentrations (0-50 mg B L −1). After 30 days, leaf biomass and B content, the activity of phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.24), the phenolic profile, and radical scavenging activity of methanolic extracts (oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), reducing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP)) were analyzed. Tolerance to B was assessed by the lipid peroxidation level and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activity. Leaf biomass in cultivars increased at 3 mg B L −1 , while Legacy was more sensitive to higher B treatments than Brigitta, which was evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and decreased SOD activity. Boroninduced inhibition of PAL activity was higher in Legacy. Cultivar-specific differences observed in hydroxycinnamic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin profiles of leaf extracts were related to radical scavenging capacities. The results indicate different B requirements in the two blueberry genotypes, which should be considered before B application to obtain an optimal antioxidant composition. Boron supply increased the accumulation of flavonoids in Brigitta and hydroxycinnamates in Legacy. Higher tolerance to excess B in Brigitta may be related to higher antioxidative capacity and SOD activity than Legacy.

Improvement of Growth, Yield, Seed Production and Phytochemical Properties of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad by Foliar Application of Boron and Zinc

“…In the current study with S. khuzistanica, the total phenol, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity assayed by DPPH and FRAP were increased in response to B. These results were consistent with the findings reported by Thurzo et al [60] in Prunus avium L. and Merino-Gergichevich et al [61] in Vaccinium corymbosum L., who also reported a positive effect of B on the total phenol and flavonoids of studied plants. Given that B has been shown to play an important role in the metabolism of phenolic compounds, the increase in phenol and flavonoids as a result of B application is not surprising [62].…”

Boron on in vitro growth and enzymatic activity of Blueberry

“…For blueberry research demonstrated that B enhanced crop biomass concerning plantlets and was conducive to phenolic compounds production such as chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, myricetin and quercetin (MERIÑO-GERGICHEVICH et al, 2017;MERIÑO-GERGICHEVICH et al, 2019). Nevertheless, the influences of B in the blueberry micropropagation and its physiological functions on enzymatic activity are not clear yet.…”