Stress response of plants, metabolite production due to pulsed electric fields

Abstract

Plants in the nature live under extreme environmental conditions. Seasonal changes, excessive or insufficient light, extreme temperatures, availability of mineral nutrients, plant injury, and pathogen attack are just some of the factors that influence growth and development of the vegetation in very legible way, however, also in ways we may not realize. Plants inability to move make them compelled to deal with a complex set of abiotic stresses. Elaborate cellular functions of a plant system have found a way to respond to unfavorable external conditions by triggering numerous metabolic pathways, through which their defense is initiated. Stress response of plants to diverse environmental conditions may act as inhibitor or promotor of plant development. Resulting changes in plant normal metabolic functions depend on the intensity of the stress imposed and overall fitness of the biological system. The main physiological effect of a number of different external stressors is destabilization of the cell membrane, which can be achieved by the application of low intensity PEF treatments. Induction of temporary pore development while retaining cell vitality, PEF offers a great potential to induce stress reaction to plant systems, similar to one present in the nature. A number of different metabolic routes were shown to be triggered by application of PEF as an external stressor. Scientific literature reveals changes in biochemical and molecular mechanisms, energy release and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including secondary effect of accumulation and recovery of different metabolites, as response to PEF treatment. Various plant systems (protoplasts, cell culture suspension, fruits, vegetables, and crops) were subjected to low intensities PEF treatment, and stress response triggered by electroporation was observed.