African Journal of Botany

ISSN 2756-3294

African Journal of Botany ISSN: 3519-3824 Vol. 6 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Interaction of lycorine with UV-B and kinetin in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Cotyledons

Karishma Jain, Sunita Kataria* and K. N. Guruprasad

School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya University, Vigyan Bhawan, Khandwa Road Campus, Indore 452001, India.

Accepted 12 November, 2017

Abstract

Interaction of lycorine, a strong inhibitor of ascorbic acid biosynthesis with kinetin and UV-B radiation has been studied in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons. Lycorine inhibited hypocotyl growth of seedlings as well as kinetin induced expansion growth of cotyledons in darkness. Exposure to UV-B radiation has similar inhibitory effect on growth. Inhibition of growth by lycorine was accompanied by inhibition of ascorbic acid biosynthesis but UV-B radiation promoted ascorbic acid synthesis while inhibiting growth. The inhibitory effect of lycorine on ascorbic acid synthesis could be completely recovered by kinetin. The role of ascorbic acid as a growth promoter and as an antioxidant is discussed in the light of lycorine effect.

Key words: Ascorbic acid, growth, kinetin, lycorine, ultraviolet-B radiation.