Effect of drought stress on metabolite synthesis in Actinidia Arguta Leaves

In the context of global climatic changes, water stress, which causes drought, is one of the limiting factors affecting the environment and negatively affects the growth and development of cultivated plants. The stressful impact of dry conditions causes changes in the biochemical processes of plants. Herein, we studied the change in antioxidant activity, the amount of phenolic compounds and the peculiarities of the synthesis of some metabolites in Actinidia. argutа leaves, Taezhny Dar variety, under drought stress. All parameters were measured in leaves of control plants and after drought stress. Biennial plants were grown in separate pots and kept in an open area under a canopy to keep out the rain. Antioxidant activity and the amount of phenolic compounds were determined spectrophotometrically. Under conditions of moisture deficiency, the antioxidant activity and the amount of phenolic compounds in the leaves are higher than in the control. The composition of metabolites in the leaf extract was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Under drought stress, changes in the synthesis of primary and secondary metabolites occur. In the leaves of control plants, 14 substances were identified, of which 6 are organic acids and 8 are carbohydrate substances. In the leaves of plants under drought stress, 37 compounds were recorded, that is, more than 2 times more than in the leaves of control plants, 23 substances of a carbohydrate nature were identified, including Myo-Inositol, which has antioxidant properties. The main carbohydrates in the leaves of the control plants of actinidia were turanose and mannobiose; under drought conditions, sucrose; its content increased 15 times in comparison with the control plants. The phenolic compounds Quininic acid and Caffeic acid are synthesized in the leaves of Actinidia arguta plants subjected to drought.