Phenolic compounds and photosynthetic activity in Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) in response to application of abscisic acid exogenous

[Display omitted] •The influence of the application of different concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA).•The Total phenolics, caffeic acid, rutin, and trans-cinnamic were evaluated.•The photosynthetic activity was evaluated as a response to stress hormone.•The ABA application increased the synthesis of total phenolic up to 50 μmol L−1. Physalis angulata is a medicinal plant with potential to treat several diseases due to the presence of secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds. The influence of the application of different abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations on the composition of phenolic compounds and gas exchange was evaluated on the Physalis angulata leaves. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil, with potted plants. At 45 days after sowing, the plants were separated into groups and the following treatments were applied: 0, 25, 50, 100 and 150 μmol L−1 of ABA. Two days after the treatments application, the gas leaf exchange (liquid photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, mesophilic CO2 concentration and the relationship between atmospheric CO2 concentration and mesophilic CO2 concentration) between 9:00 and 11:00 was measured using an infrared gas analizer (IRGA). Four days after ABA spraying, some plants showed senescence symptoms, and therefore they were collected and taken to the stove until reached a constant dry mass. The total phenolics, caffeic acid, rutin, and trans-cinnamic were evaluated in response to the ABA. The ABA application increased the synthesis of total phenolic compounds up to 50 μmol L−1 concentration. The ABA application did not interfere with the caffeic acid synthesis. However, the rutin concentration increased regardless of ABA concentration that was applied and for trans-cinnamic acid, there was an increase up to the concentration of 100 μmol L−1. The ABA application caused stomatal closure and, consequently, the leaf gas exchange of Physalis angulata reduced.