Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights
This study evaluated the physiological and biochemical responses of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) to foliar application of cineole, carvacrol, and thymol at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm. Carvacrol at 1000 ppm significantly enhanced fresh biomass (+15.4%) and aerial biomass (...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Lamyae Et-Tazy Riccardo Fedeli Oussama Khibech Abdeslam Lamiri Allal Challioui Stefano Loppi |
| author_facet | Lamyae Et-Tazy Riccardo Fedeli Oussama Khibech Abdeslam Lamiri Allal Challioui Stefano Loppi |
| author_sort | Lamyae Et-Tazy |
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| description | This study evaluated the physiological and biochemical responses of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) to foliar application of cineole, carvacrol, and thymol at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm. Carvacrol at 1000 ppm significantly enhanced fresh biomass (+15.4%) and aerial biomass (+46.2%), whereas thymol significantly reduced plant height (−20.2%) and overall biomass, yet notably increased chlorophyll content (+23.3%) and vitamin C levels (+41.4%) at the same concentration. Cineole significantly improved antioxidant capacity by increasing total phenolic content (+15.5% at 1000 ppm) and total flavonoid content (+19.1% at 500 ppm), but simultaneously decreased soluble protein synthesis and chlorophyll content (−39% at 500 ppm). Mineral analysis showed notable increases in calcium content following treatment with cineole (+30.5% at 1000 ppm) and carvacrol (+32% at 500 ppm), while thymol at 1000 ppm significantly reduced phosphorus, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, and zinc accumulation. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations revealed strong interactions of thymol and carvacrol with essential enzymes, specifically ascorbate peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, which are involved in antioxidant and phenolic metabolism pathways. These molecular interactions suggest potential contributions of thymol and carvacrol to plant stress resilience mechanisms, although further experimental validation is needed to confirm their roles in vivo. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing monoterpene concentrations, indicating that carefully calibrated treatments could effectively enhance chickpea growth, nutritional quality, and stress tolerance within sustainable agricultural practices. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ff6e3f2de87d40fbb7bc1db827c228f42025-06-25T13:30:31ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114665710.3390/biology14060657Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular InsightsLamyae Et-Tazy0Riccardo Fedeli1Oussama Khibech2Abdeslam Lamiri3Allal Challioui4Stefano Loppi5Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Hassan First University, Settat 26002, MoroccoBioAgry Lab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyLaboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60050, MoroccoLaboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Hassan First University, Settat 26002, MoroccoLaboratory of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda 60050, MoroccoBioAgry Lab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyThis study evaluated the physiological and biochemical responses of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) to foliar application of cineole, carvacrol, and thymol at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm. Carvacrol at 1000 ppm significantly enhanced fresh biomass (+15.4%) and aerial biomass (+46.2%), whereas thymol significantly reduced plant height (−20.2%) and overall biomass, yet notably increased chlorophyll content (+23.3%) and vitamin C levels (+41.4%) at the same concentration. Cineole significantly improved antioxidant capacity by increasing total phenolic content (+15.5% at 1000 ppm) and total flavonoid content (+19.1% at 500 ppm), but simultaneously decreased soluble protein synthesis and chlorophyll content (−39% at 500 ppm). Mineral analysis showed notable increases in calcium content following treatment with cineole (+30.5% at 1000 ppm) and carvacrol (+32% at 500 ppm), while thymol at 1000 ppm significantly reduced phosphorus, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, and zinc accumulation. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations revealed strong interactions of thymol and carvacrol with essential enzymes, specifically ascorbate peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, which are involved in antioxidant and phenolic metabolism pathways. These molecular interactions suggest potential contributions of thymol and carvacrol to plant stress resilience mechanisms, although further experimental validation is needed to confirm their roles in vivo. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing monoterpene concentrations, indicating that carefully calibrated treatments could effectively enhance chickpea growth, nutritional quality, and stress tolerance within sustainable agricultural practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/657cineolecarvacrolthymolfoliar applicationsustainable agricultureplant biochemical response |
| spellingShingle | Lamyae Et-Tazy Riccardo Fedeli Oussama Khibech Abdeslam Lamiri Allal Challioui Stefano Loppi Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights Biology cineole carvacrol thymol foliar application sustainable agriculture plant biochemical response |
| title | Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights |
| title_full | Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights |
| title_short | Effects of Monoterpene-Based Biostimulants on Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Plants: Functional and Molecular Insights |
| title_sort | effects of monoterpene based biostimulants on chickpea i cicer arietinum i l plants functional and molecular insights |
| topic | cineole carvacrol thymol foliar application sustainable agriculture plant biochemical response |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/657 |
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