MODULATION OF BIOELEMENT CONCENTRATION AND MACROMOLECULE CONFORMATION IN LEAVES OF SALVIA COCCINEA BY SALICYLIC ACID AND SALT STRESS

摘要

We investigated the effects of salicylic acid (0.5 and 1.0 mM SA) and salinity (100 mM NaCl) on chemical composition of Salvia coccínea leaves. It is a little known species of sage grown as an medicinal and ornamental plant. We used standard chemical analyses to determine the content of micro- and macronutrients and advanced instrumental methods (FTIR and Raman spectroscopy) to assess the quantity and quality of biogenic compounds. Salt and SA treatment changed the levels of the investigated minerals, except for Zn and Cu. SA in salt-exposed plants enhanced the leaf content of P, K and K/Na ratio, as compared with salt-exposed plants not treated with the acid. Molecular spectroscopic analyses confirmed that SA affected protein, lipid, lignin and pectin content in S. coccínea leaves. We confirmed usefulness of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for examining biochemical changes caused by SA and salinity stress within the plant tissues.