Effect of abiotic stress under light and dark conditions on carotenoid content in pumpkin (Cucurbita moshata) calluses

Abstract

The  aim  of  this  study was to  observe  the  effect  of  abiotic  stress  under  light  and  dark conditions on pumpkin calluses carotenoid. Plant elicitors used to create abiotic stress in this study were Polyethylene Glycol 4000 for drought stress, Jasmonic Acid and Salicylic Acid for hormones  stress  and  Murashige  and  Skoog  Salt  for  control  and  half strength  nutrients. Carotneoid content was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Under light condition, the value of lutein was in range 0.554 + 0.107 µg/g to 0.169 + 0.003 µg/g and β-carotene was in range of not detected up to 8.133 + 0.088 µg/g. Differ to dark condition, a trace amount of lutein was detected in each treatments and the highest amount of β-carotene was detected in Polyethylene glycol treatment (5.313 + 0.051 µg/g). Carotenoid content varies in each treatment due to adaptation of pumpkin calluses with abiotic stress induced to them.

Keywords: cucurbita moshata; calluses; carotenoid; high performance liquid chromatography; lutein; β carotene