Effect of hydrogen peroxide on plant growth, photosynthesis, leaf histology and rubisco gene expression of theFicus deltoideaJack Var.deltoideaJack

• Main Authors: Nik Muhammad Nasir, Nik Nurnaeimah, Khandaker, Mohammad Moneruzzaman, Mohd, Khamsah Suryati, Badaluddin, Noor Afiza, Osman, Normaniza, Mat, Nashriyah
• Format: Article
• Published: SPRINGER 2021
• Subjects: QK Botany; S Agriculture (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/28358/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the growth, photosynthesis, leaf histology, mineral uptake, phytochemical accumulation, and Rubisco gene expression inFicus deltoideavar.deltoidea,a slow growing medicinal plant. TheF. deltoideaplants were spray-treated with 0 (control), 8, 16, 30 and 60 mM H(2)O(2)under field conditions. The results showed that the applications of 30 mM H(2)O(2)increased the plant height, leaf number, and syconium number by 26%, 9% and 2275%, respectively, over the control specimen. Photosynthetic rates, transpiration, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content ofF. deltoidaeplants increased significantly after treatment of 30 mM H2O2. A lower concentration (8 and 16 mM) of H(2)O(2)also improved the leaf histological properties such as tracheary elements and other vascular cells. In addition, treatments with 30 mM H(2)O(2)increased calcium, potassium, total phenolic and flavonoids content, inF. deltoideaplants, by 14%, 15%, 12% and 72%, respectively. In addition, H(2)O(2)treatment at 30 mM concentration downregulated the Rubisco gene with a between 1 and 5 times fold gene expression change. From this study, it can be concluded that spraying with 30 and 16 mM of H(2)O(2)once a week enhanced growth, photosynthesis, mineral accumulation, phenol and flavonoid content, as well as aided Rubisco gene expression, under field conditions.