Semisynthetic Triterpenes Derived from Euphorbia officinarum as Plant Growth Promoters and Inducers of Disease Resistance

• Published in: Journal of plant growth regulation Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 262 - 272
• Main Authors: Smaili, Amal, Rifai, Lalla Aicha, Mazoir, Noureddine, Koussa, Tayeb, Faize, Lydia, Alburquerque, Nuria, Burgos, Lorenzo, Makroum, Kacem, Malika, Belfaiza, Benharref, Ahmed, Faize, Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-03-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Catalase; Disease resistance; Euphorbia; Growth rate; Growth regulators; Guaiacol; Hydrogen peroxide; L-Ascorbate peroxidase; Leaf area; Life Sciences; Nitrate reductase; Peroxidase; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetic pigments; Pigments; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant diseases; Plant growth; Plant growth promoters; Plant immunity; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Proline; Seedlings; Tomatoes; Triterpenes; Disease resistance; Yield; Antioxidant defenses; Growth; Triterpene derivatives
• ISSN: 0721-7595; 1435-8107
• DOI: 10.1007/s00344-018-9838-3

This study evaluated the effect of application of the semisynthetic triterpenes 3β-acetoxy-norlup-20-one
(F4)
and 3-chloro-4α,14α-dimethyl-5α-cholest-8-ene
(F6)
triterpene derivatives from
Euphorbia officinarum
on the growth of tomato seedlings under normal conditions and when challenged with the pathogens
Verticillium dahliae
and
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
. Foliar spray of
F4
and
F6
significantly improved growth rate, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area. In addition, they enhanced several physiological parameters including photosynthetic pigments, proline content, and nitrate reductase activity. Moreover, they induced H
2
O
2
accumulation and increased the activity of several antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase. They also enhanced disease resistance against
V. dahliae
and
A. tumefaciens
. These results suggest that the two semisynthetic triterpenes represent new plant growth regulators and inducers of plant disease resistance.