Mixed cropping with maize combined with moderate UV-B radiations lead to enhanced flavonoid production and root growth in faba bean

Abstract

Flavonoids have recently been proposed to function as developmental regulators and/or signaling molecules under biotic or abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to determine the composition and concentration of fiavonoid aglycones (kaempferol, luteolin, and quercetin) in faba bean shoots and roots, as affected by interspecific root interactions with maize and moderate UV-B radiation. Independent of the UV-B treatment, interspecific root interactions with maize enhanced the concentration of both quercetin and luteolin in the faba bean shoots and roots by 50 and 97.8%, respectively, and improved the root length by 14.6%. In addition, moderate UV-B radiation facilitated a systematic increase of both aglycones in both shoots and roots without affecting plant growth. To our knowledge, this report is the first work documenting the response of faba bean flavonoids to interspecific root interactions with maize and moderate UV-B radiation, and it provides a new perspective for understanding interspecific interactions. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.