Exogenous caffeic acid inhibits the growth and enhances the lignification of the roots of soybean (Glycine max)

Gisele Adriana Bubna; Rogério Barbosa Lima; Daniele Yara Lucca Zanardo; Wanderley Dantas Dos Santos; Maria de Lourdes Lucio Ferrarese; Osvaldo Ferrarese-Filho

doi:10.1016/j.jplph.2011.03.005

Exogenous caffeic acid inhibits the growth and enhances the lignification of the roots of soybean (Glycine max)

J Plant Physiol. 2011 Sep 15;168(14):1627-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2011.03.005. Epub 2011 Apr 12.

Authors

Gisele Adriana Bubna¹, Rogério Barbosa Lima, Daniele Yara Lucca Zanardo, Wanderley Dantas Dos Santos, Maria de Lourdes Lucio Ferrarese, Osvaldo Ferrarese-Filho

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.

PMID: 21489652
DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2011.03.005

Abstract

The allelopathic effect of caffeic acid was tested on root growth, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) activities, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) accumulation, lignin content and monomeric composition of soybean (Glycine max) roots. We found that exogenously applied caffeic acid inhibited root growth, decreased the PAL activity and H(2)O(2) content and increased the soluble and cell wall-bound POD activities. The p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S) monomers and total lignin (H+G+S) increased in the caffeic acid-exposed roots. When applied in conjunction with piperonylic acid (PIP, an inhibitor of the cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, C4H), caffeic acid equalized the inhibitory effect of PIP, whereas the application of methylene dioxocinnamic acid (MDCA, an inhibitor of the 4-coumarate:CoA ligase, 4CL) plus caffeic acid decreased lignin production. These results indicate that exogenously applied caffeic acid can be channeled into the phenylpropanoid pathway via the 4CL reaction, resulting in an increase of lignin monomers that solidify the cell wall and inhibit root growth.

MeSH terms

Antioxidants / pharmacology*
Benzoates / pharmacology
Caffeic Acids / pharmacology*
Cell Wall / enzymology
Cell Wall / metabolism
Cinnamates / pharmacology
Coenzyme A Ligases / antagonists & inhibitors
Coenzyme A Ligases / metabolism
Coumaric Acids / pharmacology
Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
Glycine max / drug effects*
Glycine max / enzymology
Glycine max / growth & development
Glycine max / metabolism
Hydrogen Peroxide / analysis
Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
Lignin / analysis
Lignin / metabolism*
Peroxidase / drug effects
Peroxidase / metabolism
Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase / drug effects
Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase / metabolism
Plant Proteins / drug effects
Plant Proteins / metabolism
Plant Roots / drug effects
Plant Roots / enzymology
Plant Roots / growth & development
Plant Roots / metabolism
Seedlings / drug effects
Seedlings / enzymology
Seedlings / growth & development
Seedlings / metabolism
Trans-Cinnamate 4-Monooxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors
Trans-Cinnamate 4-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

Antioxidants
Benzoates
Caffeic Acids
Cinnamates
Coumaric Acids
Enzyme Inhibitors
Plant Proteins
Lignin
Hydrogen Peroxide
Peroxidase
Trans-Cinnamate 4-Monooxygenase
Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase
Coenzyme A Ligases
4-coumarate-CoA ligase
piperonylic acid
caffeic acid