ISSN : 2663-2187

Effect of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the response of some stress genes and the activity of several antioxidant enzymes date palm leaves

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Muna Mohammed Najeeb, Rashid Jamei, Jalil Khara and Aqeel Hadi Abdulwahid Al-Aamiri
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.14.2024.10722-10743

Abstract

This study used 18-month-old date palm offshoots treated with a combination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including naphthalene, anthracene, and Benzo(a)Pyrene, at concentrations of 0, 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg. After 85 days of treatment, samples were taken from the palm leaves for biochemical tests and gene expression analysis. The results showed that treatment with PAHs increased the concentration of hydrocarbons, particularly aromatic hydrocarbons. Additionally, the treatment led to an increase in the concentration of carbohydrates and proline. For example, at a concentration of 60 mg/kg of PAHs, the carbohydrate content reached 14.71 ±0.57 mg/100 g compared to the control sample (9.88 ±1.05 mg/100 g), and the proline content was 8.32±0.99 µmol/g compared to 2.64±0.57 µmol/g in the control sample. However, treatment at this concentration decreased chlorophyll pigment and carotenoids compared to the control sample. Chlorophylls a and b reached 2.47±0.58 and 2.13±1.02 mg/g respectively, while the control sample reached 4.52±0.56 and 2.21±0.66 mg/g. Similarly, carotenoids decreased to 1.47±0.53 mg/g compared to 1.78 ±0.01mg/g in the control sample. The activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) also increased with increasing treatment concentration. For example, the SOD enzyme activity reached 5.42±0.59 units. min-1 at a 60 mg/kg concentration of PAHs compared to 2.23±1.005 units. min-1 in the control sample. The CAT enzyme activity reached 6.53±1.54 units. min-1, and the control sample reached 4.32±0.56 units. min-1. The POX enzyme activity was 48±1.00 units. min-1 compared to 29±1.02 unit. min-1 in the control sample. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased at 60 mg/kg of PAHs, accompanied by a decrease in the membrane stability index (MSI). However, as the treatment concentration decreased, the concentration of MDA decreased and the MSI increased. The gene expression analysis of date leaves treated with different concentrations of PAHs showed that the SOD gene had the highest expression level at the concentration of 60 mg/kg PAHs and reached 0.99 - fold compared to the control treatment, which recorded 0.23- fold for this gene. The expression of other studied genes also increased in the concentration of 60 mg/kg PAHs compared to other treatment concentrations.

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