Influence of germination and elicitation on phenolic acids profile of wheat sprouts

Seedlings of winter wheat cultivars were studied (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare): Bogatka, Mulan and Muszelka. Before germination the seeds were placed in distilled water (control) and in distilled water containing 0.1% (w/v) of Saccacharomyces cerevisiae (SC) extract, 0.1% (w/v) Salix daphnoides (SD) bark extract and their combinations (1:1, SCD) for 6h at 25 °C. Seeds were germinated for 4 days at 20 °C in darkness. Phenolic acids content were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Plant material was extracted using Dionex ASE 100 accelerated solvent extractor (methanol concentration 80%, temperature: 80 °C). Eleven phenolic acids (protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, caffeic, syryngic, p-coumaric, cis- and t-ferulic, salicylic, t- and cis-synapinic) were identified in the dormant seeds (control) and seedlings. Sprouting decreased protocatechuic and vanillic acids level. After sprouting significant increase (p = 0.05) of p-hydroxybenzoic, syryngic and p-coumaric acids level was observed. In the case of Bogatka all elicitors increased protocatechuic, caffeic and t-ferulic acids content. The most effective elicitors were SD and SCD. In the case of Muszelka elicitation slightly, but significantly (p = 0.05) decreased content of protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and syryngic acids, whereas treatment with SD and SCD elevated caffeic, both ferulic, and cis-synapinic acids level. Treatment with SC increased caffeic and t-synapinic acids content. All elicitors increased caffeic, cis-ferulic and salicylic acids content in Mulan sprouts. Level of protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and t-ferulic acids increased after SC and SCD treatment, whereas p-coumaric and both synapinic acids content increased after treatment with SD and SCD.

Acknowledgement: The study was financed by the Polish National Science Centre (Grant 2012/07/B/NZ9/02463).