Cold stress changes antioxidant defense system, phenylpropanoid contents and expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis in Ocimum basilicum L.

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Abstract
Environmental stresses might alter the activity of antioxidant defense system and both quantity and quality of the essential oil constituents in aromatic plants. In the current study, a greenhouse experiment was designed to assess the influence of cold stress on total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging, antioxidant and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzymes activity and content of phenylpropanoid compounds inOcimum basilicumL. The genes expression levels of chavicolO-methyl transferase (CVOMT), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), eugenol synthase 1 (EGS1) and eugenolO-methyl transferase (EOMT) were also investigated. Results revealed the highest TPC, TFC and DPPH at 4 °C for 12 h. Positive significant correlation was observed between TFC and DPPH, as well as TPC and PAL enzyme activity. The highest activity of superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase was recorded in 4 °C for 48 h, while this treatment caused the highest reduction in the activities of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase. In plants exposed to 10 °C for 48 h, the contents of methyleugenol and methylchavicol was positively associated with the expression levels ofEGS1 and EOMT. A positive correlation was also found betweenC4Hexpression and eugenol, methyleugenol and methylchavicol contents under 4 °C for 12 h.

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