Background and objectives: Indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria L.) is a plant belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae). This plant is widely distributed in the tropical regions of the world and has been cultivated for centuries as the main source of indigo dye and has a high medicinal value. This plant has therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, blood fat reducer, nerve protector, anti-allergy, liver protector, anti-spasm and antioxidant. Phytochemical screening of the indigo plant, the presence of several biologically active chemicals including; It shows tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium, etc.). It also contains copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, vitamins and fatty acids. Since the elicitors of chitosan and carrageenan have a positive effect on the morphological and physiological properties of some plants, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of carrageenan and chitosan on some morphological and physiological indicators of the True Indigo plant.
Methodology: This experiment was carried out in a factorial manner based on a completely random design in 3 replications in pot conditions in the research laboratory of Zabol University Faculty of Science in 1400. In addition, the effect of different levels of carrageenan (at four ppm levels of 0, 100, 200 and 300) and chitosan (at three levels of 0, 200 and 400 ppm) on morphological characteristics including fresh weight, dry weight, leaf indices and some physiological indices including Photosynthetic pigments, total phenol (using Folin Ciocatio reagent method), total flavonoid (using aluminum chloride colorimetric method), antioxidant activity (using DPPH method) and activity of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes. enzyme extract method) was measured.
Results: The results of this study showed that different traites such as: fresh weight, leaf indices, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid, total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, PAL and PPO enzymes were under the effect of foliar spraying with carrageenan and chitosan biostimulants. So that the maximum amount of leaf length (2.5 cm), leaf width (1.35 cm), leaf surface (1.89 cm2) and number of leaves (7.3) were measured in combined spraying with carrageenan 200 ppm + chitosan 400 ppm. The highest stem height (1.6 cm) was measured from the 300 ppm carrageenan + 400 ppm chitosan treatment. The highest fresh and dry weights (7.34 and 0.133 grams) were measured, from the 100 ppm carrageenan + 200 ppm chitosan treatment respectively. The highest amounts of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll were calculated in the foliar spraying treatment with 200 ppm carrageenan + 200 ppm chitosan. Plants treated with carrageenan 300 ppm + chitosan 400 ppm had, the highest amount of total phenols (109.43 mg Gallic acid. g FW), flavonoid content (1.73 mg Quercetin. g FW), antioxidant activity (88.83 %), PAL enzyme (2.57 µmolcinamicacid.mg protein.h) and PPO enzyme (6.89 mg protein).
Conclusion: In general, the effect of elicitors varies depending on the type and concentration of the elicitor and the type of plant species. Based on the results of this study, carrageenan and chitosan esters in concentrations higher than 200 ppm are suggested as suitable stimulants to increase growth and produce secondary metabolites. The treatment of simultaneous use of carrageenan (300 ppm) and chitosan (400 ppm) improves the phytochemical properties of Indigo plant. |