Some physiological effects of copper applications in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

In this study, effects of Cu application on some of the physiological effects of medicinal and aromatic plants rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) plants were investigated. The plants were acclimatized in growing chamber during three weeks. The plants were treated with 5, 50, 100 and 500 ppm Cu concentrations during 20-days, then harvested. Particularly, a decline in shoot growth and chlorosis in leaves were observed at 100 and 500 ppm Cu concentrations. Copper contents of leaves were increased with increasing Cu concentrations. Although K contents of leaves at 5 and 50 ppm Cu concentrations were decreased as 3.8% and 2.0%, respectively, with respect to control, the contents were increased at 100 and 500 ppm Cu conentrations as 1.6% and 3.7%, respectively. Whereas Fe, Mg and Ca contents of leaves were increased with increasing Cu concentrations, Zn content was decreased. Chlorophyll- a and chlorophyll-b contents of leaves were decreased at 500 ppm Cu concentration as 26.4% and 22.8%, respectively, with respect to control. Similarly, the total protein content of the leaves were decreased by Cu the applications, particularly at high Cu concentrations. There were increases in H2O2 amounts, a reactive oxygen species. Observed increases in total amount of phenolic compounds show that such compounds may be related to the roles in tolerance.