Impact of abiotic stressors on oleic acid accumulation in the leaves of young quinoa plants

Abstract

Investigating the impact of not only individual stress factors but also their combined effect on plants becomes imperative in the context of natural and climatic fluctuations. 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2) and α-linolenic (18:3) serve as vital non-enzymatic antioxidants, making significant contributions to plant defense. Moreover, they are indispensable in assessing the nutritional and biological value of plant lipids. Currently, Chenopodium quinoa L., a member of the Amaranth family, is increasingly recognized as a valuable source of antioxidant metabolites. Current study examined the fluctuation patterns in oleic acid ester content, serving as a non-enzymatic antioxidant, when plant exposed to varying intensities of osmotic, saline, and combined stress. A constant concentration of oleic acid esters was shown under different levels of saline stress. Osmotic stress did not affect the oleic acid content. Under salt stress, the oleic acid content increased compared to the control, varying at different NaCl concentrations. However, under combined stress, there was a significant increase in ester content, peaking at a stress level of 200NaCl/L+PEG, followed by a decrease as stress increased. It was noted that signs of stress for the photochemical quenching index of YII and ETR in photosystem II of young quinoa plants also occur with a combination of exposure to 300 mM/L NaCl + PEG. It was suggested that the level of combined stress at 200NaCl/P is transitional from eustress to distress. The results obtained could potentially become the basis for the targeted synthesis of valuable plant antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical purposes in the future.