ABSTRACT
Background: environmental stresses and biotic and abiotic elicitors induce secondary metabolites biosynthesis and hypersensitive response in plants through activation of defense mechanisms
Objective: this study was carried out with the aim of assessing the effects of different drought stress and multi-walled carbon nanotube [MWCNT] levels on physiological variations, flavonoid and phenolic contents, and antioxidant capacity of Salvia mirzayanii
Methods: this study was arranged in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design under research greenhouse of medicinal plants department at Arak University. The first factor was considered as drought stress in 4 levels [25, 50, 75 and 100% of field capacity], and the second factor was designated as foliar spray of MWCNT [functionalized and non- functionalized] at 4 different concentrations [0, 50 and 200 mg/L]
Results: results showed that drought stress and MWCNT and their interactions significantly affected some studied traits. Leaf relative water content [P<0.01] and chlorophyll index [P<0.05] was significantly changed under drought stress treatment, however, electrolyte leakage index significantly [P<0.01] affected under different levels of MWCNT. Furthermore, total phenolics was significantly [P<0.01] changed under interaction of experimental treatments. The highest and the lowest phenolics content were achieved in functionalized MWCNT exposed plants at 50 and 200 mg/L under 25% of FC, respectively
Conclusion: application of functionalized MWCNT at concentration of 50 mg/L along with moderate drought stress improved physiological traits and antioxidant activity of extract in S. mirzayanii plants