Proline accumulation patterns with relation to surface soil moisture in Mollugo cerviana (linn.) Ser. - a small-sized medicinal herb from the Indian arid zone

JournalofResearchinBiology
Proline accumulation patterns with relation to surface soil moisture in
Mollugo cerviana (linn.) Ser. - a small-sized medicinal herb from the
Indian arid zone
Keywords:
Mollugo cerviana, proline, water scarcity, soil moisture, medicinal, Indian
arid zone
ABSTRACT:
The present work deals with the proline accumulation in Mollugo cerviana, a
drought escaping xerophytes from two different sites during July to October 2012-14
in arid conditions of Churu region. The Indian arid zone primarily suffers from
moisture deficiencies all over the year excepting the precipitation days. During the
present study, the lowest proline values were observed during July at both sites when
monsoon showers moistened the upper-most soil layers as well as the plants were in
juvenile stage. As the season proceeds, the proline accumulation showed an
increasing trend till September, being highest (4.9165 µg g-1
f. wt.) from site-I.
Interestingly, the values decreased during October when the plants were in nearly to
dry indicating the enhanced protoplasmic respiration in senescence plants. It is
obvious from the study that plants accumulate more proline against moisture scarcity
in upper soil layers (0-5 cm) during July to September as compared to end of the
season, i.e. October.
1635-1640| JRB | 2015 | Vol 5 | No 2
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Authors:
Purushottam Lal, Sher
Mohammed and Pawan
Kasera K
Institution:
1. Department of Botany1
,
Govt. Lohia PG College,
Churu-331001, Rajasthan,
India
2. Department of Botany2
,
J.N.V. University, Jodhpur-
342 033, Rajasthan, India
Corresponding author:
Sher Mohammed
Web Address:
http://jresearchbiology.com/
Documents/RA0498.pdf.
Dates:
Received:12 Dec 2014 Accepted: 8 Jan 2015 Published: 14 Mar 2015
Article Citation:
Purushottam Lal, Sher Mohammed and Pawan Kasera K
Proline accumulation patterns with relation to surface soil moisture in Mollugo
cerviana (linn.) Ser. - a small-sized medicinal herb from the Indian arid zone
Journal of research in Biology (2015)5(2): 1635-1640
Journal of Research in Biology
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
ISSN No: Print: 2231 –6280; Online: 2231- 6299
An International Scientific Research Journal

INTRODUCTION:
The Indian arid zone ecosystem is a peculiar
indication of climatic compel on its structural and
functional entities. Uncongenial climatic conditions
impose manifold constrains on arid plants of the Thar
desert and make their survival complicated (Krishnan,
1977). In arid zones, water scarcity, temperature
extremes, intense solar radiations, high wind velocity and
rainfall limitations strictly tune the plant metabolism
(Bartels, 2005, Srivastava, 2006). Small-sized drought
escaping plants exhibit a high degree of developmental
plasticity, being able to complete their life-cycle before
physiological water deficit occurs (Manuela et al., 2003).
Escape strategies depend on successful reproduction
before the onset of severe stress.
This trend is important in arid regions, where
native annuals may combine short life cycles with high
rates of growth and gas exchange, using maximum
available resources while moisture in the soil lasts
(Maroco et al., 2000). Moisture stress induces the
appearance of certain chemical compounds in plants,
which may either be synthesized de novo or may result
from the disintegration of the existing ones which lead
adaptive responses in them through changes in the
endogenous level of growth regulators and metabolic
changes (Yadav et al., 2003).
To counter diverse environmental stresses, many
plants increase the accumulation of compatible
osmolytes such as proline and glycine betaine (McCue
and Hanson, 1990). The role of proline biosynthesis
confers some adaptive advantage under water stress or
triggers a consequence of stress-induced changes in
metabolism (Cushman et al., 1990). Free proline [L-
pyrrolidine 2-carboxy acid (C5H9NO2)] accumulation in
plants has been considered as one of the most widespread
stress induced response, so its measurement would be an
excellent stress detector. However, there are many
controversial issues with proline accumulation and stress
resistance (Mohammed and Sen, 1990; Sen and
Mohammed, 1992; Ober and Sharp, 1994).
Mollugo cerviana (Linn.) Ser. (Chiria ka Bajara/
Chiria ka Khet; Fam: Molluginaceae) is a many-
stemmed, erect, slender, annual herb (5-18 cm height)
with fill form thin rigid branches growing in poor
associations with other weeds (Fig. 1; a-c) bearing linear
leaves in whorls at thickened nodes (Fig. 1; d). Perianth
lobes have greenish white and membranous margins.
Brownish compressed seeds are more or less triangular
in outline (Fig. 1; e & f). It is a multifunctional annual
herb useful in fever (Khare, 2007), gonorrhea (Anon.,
2005) and to treat infected wounds (Valarmathi et al.,
1636 Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(2): 1635-1640
Lal et al., 2015
Figure 1: Mollugo cerviana: young seedling with dimor-
phic leaves (a), plants in vegetative growth with simulta-
neous flowering (b), association with Gisekia
pharnacioides on sandy soils (C), nodal appendages at
apex (d), fresh seeds (e), and close-up view of seed (f).
Fig. 2: Monthly variations in moisture % at surface (0-5
cm) and depth (20-25 cm) soil layers in comparison to
accumulated proline (µg g-1
f. wt.) in leaves of M.
cerviana collected from sites-I & II.

2012). Traditionally, dried plant decoction is orally given
to cure typhoid fever among local tribes.
A complete understanding of stress-induced
changes in the proline biosynthesis may reveal how
plants adapt to environmental stresses. Hence in the
present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the
proline accumulation patterns in M. cerviana with
relation to the soil moisture conditions at two different
sites of Churu region, a part of the Indian arid region.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The leaf samples of M. cerviana were collected
from healthy plants at two different sites, viz. Shyampura
(Site-I; 12 km towards west-south) and Buntia (Site-II;
10 km towards north from the College Campus) during
July to October 2012-14. The leaf samples were
collected from similar nodes of different plants to
minimize the variability in sample selection. Fully-
matured fresh leaves were collected in the morning hours
and estimation of proline was carried out after randomly
mixing the leaf samples in triplicate. The estimation of
proline was carried out according to Bates et al. (1973).
The climatic conditions of experimental sites are arid
with no significant differences. Soil moisture on surface
(0-5 cm) and depth (20-25 cm) levels underneath M.
cerviana plants were calculated as per Pandeya et al.
(1968). To better reflect the relationship between proline
and the moisture in surface and depth soil layers, the
percentage changes in their values were calculated at
successive monthly intervals, viz. Jul.-Aug., Aug.-Sep.
and Sep.-Oct. The data were analyzed statistically as per
the methods of Gomez and Gomez (1984). The mean
values of two successive years are presented in tabular
and graphical forms.
RESULTS:
The data on accumulated proline in M. cerviana
leaves and the soil moisture (%) are presented in Fig. 2
which reveals that proline values invariably increased
from July to September, with a steep fall in October at
both sites. Among sites, the lowest (0.012 µg g-1
f. wt.)
and the highest (4.9165 µg g-1
f. wt.) values were
reported during July and September, respectively
at site-I.
The values for soil moisture percentage at
surface (0-5 cm) and depth (20-25 cm) levels exhibited
negative changes during entire season, excepting depth
layers during Jul.-Aug. at both sites. The changes in soil
moisture at surface levels were more as compared to
deeper ones, indicating the role of aridity to deprive
moisture from soil (Table 1). The proline values changed
most positively (+19333.33%) during Jul.-Aug. at site-I.
The negative changes in proline values were highest for
Sep.-Oct., being highest (-24.85%) at site-I. Proline data
from both sites and surface & deeper layers soil moisture
from site-II and site-I, respectively were significant at
p<0.05, while others were non-significant.
So, the results showed that M. cerviana leaves
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(2): 1635-1640 1637
Lal et al., 2015
Successive
months
Site-I Site-II
Soil
moisture
(surface)
Soil
moisture
(depth)
Proline
(µg g-1
f.
wt.)
Soil
moisture
(surface)
Soil
moisture
(depth)
Proline
(µg g-1
f. wt.)
Jul.-Aug. -26.37 +35.95 +19333.33 -40.77 +35.06 +366.12
Aug.-Sep. -33.95 -22.27 +101.64 -59.25 -14.42 +80.08
Sep.-Oct. -61.97 -31.97 -24.85 -47.90 -47.75 0.00
Table 1. Percentage increase (+) /decrease (-) during successive months in the values
of moisture % at surface (0-5 cm) and depth (20-25 cm) soil levels in comparison to
accumulated proline (µg g-1
f. wt.) in leaves of M. cerviana collected from sites-I & II.

accumulated maximum amount of free proline during
September. At the commencement of vegetative growth
in July, it was lowest at both sites. During October, its
values exhibited a steep fall. Invariably, the soil moisture
amounts revealed a regular decreasing trend in addition
to a high moisture loosing tendency from surface layers
as compared to deeper ones at both sites with a clear
exception for deeper layers from site-I during August.
DISCUSSION:
In a large part of their growth period, the arid
plants are open to face moisture regulated constrains.
Sum of all abiotic factors inflict dryness in arid habitat,
which consequently lead to accumulate free proline in
plants to compete their physiochemical slow down in
spite of hampered habitat features. Life span extents
(time amount) as well as plant body sizes (surface area)
are the crucial ways in arid plants to minimize aridity
interactions.
M. cerviana is a small-sized annual herb with a
shallow root system. Interestingly, the plants grow in
open sandy areas with a poor association with other
weeds. Such conditions keep it restricted to thrive only
on surface soil moisture contents. As soon as the
moisture lasts in upper soil layers, the plants culminate
their life within 2-3 weeks. Hence, this species is well
known as moisture indicator in arid areas (Sen, 1982).
Proline accumulation is a very common aridity induced
physiochemical stress indication in desert plants (Sen et
al., 2001). This amino acid acts a major osmoregulator in
plants, probably due to the convenience of osmolytes
storage in large osmotically inactive molecules such as
starch or protein, which may serve several functions and
from which they can be retrieved under conditions of
stress (Pugnaire et al., 1994). Boscaiu et al., 2011 also
envisaged the role of proline as an osmoprotectant
against the stress in plants. During studying
ecophysiological changes in 23 different plant species
from the Indian Thar desert in rainy (non-stressed), post-
monsoon (water stressed and non-stressed conditions)
and winter season (cold stress), Mohammed and Sen
(1990) observed a clear positive correlation between
dryness and accumulated proline amounts excepting a
few stress resistant plants species. Lal et al. (2012, 2014)
also reported dryness coupled proline accumulation with
an increasing trend along the plant ageing in Blepharis
sindica from Churu region.
The present findings reveal that M. cerviana
growing at two different sites accumulated highest
proline during September (post-monsoon), when the area
experienced higher moisture losses from upper soil
layers in comparison to July & August (monsoon). The
surface soil moisture values were lowest in October, but
its effects were minimal on proline accumulation
indicating the retroactive proline metabolism in
senescence or plants reaches to dry conditions in contrast
to physiologically struggling during July to September.
Moisture contents in deeper soil layers were not found in
a way to control proline metabolism suggesting about the
surface feeding mode of the species. Proline degradation
in late season reflects the use of nitrogenous compounds
as respiration substrates. In the present studies, it is
assumed that proline accumulation in M. cerviana is
associated with surface soil moisture deficiencies and
plant growth tendencies till September, afterwards the
plants trigger exceeded catabolism on cost of pre-
accumulated osmoprotectants like the proline with its
steep fall during October.
CONCLUSIONS:
M. cerviana is a small-sized shallow rooted herb,
growing in poor association with wild grasses at most
preferred open sandy areas. Its characteristic body plan,
plant height and root extensions make it highly tuned
species with that of surface soil moisture contents. In
turn, the surface soil moisture amounts in arid areas of
Lal et al., 2015

Churu region are quite erratic because of low and
interrupted precipitations coupled with accelerated
evaporation from both soil and plants surfaces. In a very
short life-cycle (July-October) the plants accumulated
highest proline during September, i.e. matured plants
were in physiologically most struggling stage against the
prevailed moisture deficits, especially in surface (0-5
cm) soil layers. The steep fall in proline after September
onwards indicated the slowed physiology when the
senescence plants turned to sustain on pre synthesized
phyto products including proline. Present study revealed
that proline accumulation in M. cerviana is a function of
surface moisture deficits and plant ageing determined by
its shallow root system.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Financial assistance received from CSIR, New
Delhi in the form of SRF-NET (File No.: 08/544
(0001)/2009-EMR-I, 27.06.2009) to first author is
gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to the
Principal, Govt. Lohia PG College, Churu for providing
necessary facilities. The authors are also thankful to Dr.
David N. Sen (Retd. Professor & Head), Department of
Botany, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur for their valuable
suggestions in improvement of this paper.
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Proline accumulation patterns with relation to surface soil moisture in Mollugo cerviana (linn.) Ser. - a small-sized medicinal herb from the Indian arid zone

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