Effects of Exogenously Applied Copper in Tomato Plants' Oxidative and Nitrogen Metabolisms under Organic Farming Conditions

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Alves, A (Author) Other; Ribeiro, R (Author) Other; Manuel Azenha (Author) FCUP; Mario Cunha (Author) FCUP; Jorge Teixeira (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Horticulturae

Vol. 9

Final page: 323

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-ZCY

DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9030323

Abstract (EN): Currently, copper is approved as an active substance among plant protection products and is considered effective against more than 50 different diseases in different crops, conventional and organic. Tomato has been cultivated for centuries, but many fungal diseases still affect it, making it necessary to control them through antifungal agents, such as copper, making it the primary form of fungal control in organic farming systems (OFS). The objective of this work was to determine whether exogenous copper applications can affect AOX mechanisms and nitrogen use efficiency in tomato plant grown in OFS. For this purpose, plants were sprayed with 'Bordeaux' mixture (SP). In addition, two sets of plants were each treated with 8 mg/L copper in the root substrate (S). Subsequently, one of these groups was also sprayed with a solution of 'Bordeaux' mixture (SSP). Leaves and roots were used to determine NR, GS and GDH activities, as well as proline, H2O2 and AsA levels. The data gathered show that even small amounts of copper in the rhizosphere and copper spraying can lead to stress responses in tomato, with increases in total ascorbate of up to 70% and a decrease in GS activity down to 49%, suggesting that excess copper application could be potentially harmful in horticultural production by OFS.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 18