Effect of Exogenously Applied Methyl Jasmonate on Yield and Quality of Salt-Stressed Hydroponically Grown Sea Fennel (<i>Crithmum maritimum</i> L.)

Abstract

Salt stress is one of the main limiting factors for plant growth and crop yield. Halophytes have been postulated as a new food source since they are able to grow under saline environments and have suitable minerals and bioactive compounds. See fennel Crithmum maritimum L. is a facultative halophyte moderately tolerant to salinity. This study was carried out in order to determine the effect spraying methyl jasmonate (MeJa) on the leaves had on the growth and nutritional quality of NaCl-treated sea fennel plants grown in a hydroponic system. For that, the seedlings were treated with (a) 0.5 mM MeJa, (b) 150 mM NaCl, and (c) 0.5 mM MeJa + 150 mM NaCl. The results showed that NaCl reduced the shoot biomass of baby leaf plants, but the addition of MeJa enabled partial recovery. At the same time, when compared with the plants treated only with NaCl, MeJa favoured the Ca and K uptake and translocation to the leaves of saline-treated plants. However, MeJa did not reduce Na levels. In all treatments, nitrate and nitrite ions were in the range of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and essential fatty acid content was elevated, although the addition of MeJa to NaCl-treated plants reduced linolenic and linoleic acid contents as compared to the plants treated only with NaCl. Total phenolic compounds were not recovered by MeJa after their decrease by salinity and no differences in antioxidant activity was found between treatments. However, all the plants maintained their antioxidant nutritional properties and increased total flavonoids after MeJa spraying to NaCl-treated plants. These results showed that MeJa spraying alleviated the negative effects of salt stress in C. maritimum grown in floating systems, improving the growth of their edible parts and increasing the total flavonoid and mineral content without affecting the total antioxidant capacity of the plant.

Keywords

• antioxidant capacity
• methyl jasmonate
• minerals
• salinity