Abstract
Every plant biological activity is manipulated by more than one hormone, thus the biological phenomenon often reflects the combined interplay of several different hormones. Cinnamic acid, being precursor for the production of various di (lignans), polyphenols (lignins) and also substituted derivatives. In this study a comparative study had been undertaken to ascertain whether, the cinnamate alone or in conjunction with kinetin, indole acetic acid, gibberellin and abscisic acid, can have biochemical effect on the carbohydrate fractions, phytochemical constituents and molecular changes using a photosynthetic tissue. Surface sterilized cucumber seeds were germinated under constant temperature and illumination. The cotyledons scored after 48 h. of germination were subjected to different treatment combinations of cinnamate alone and in conjugation with other plant growth regulators (PGRs) in sterilized petri plates lined with sterile chromatographic grade filter paper discs. Results showed a concomitant increase in the tissue fresh and dry weight contents and also increase in sugar pool with increasing cinnamate dose concentration irrespective of whether these were imposed with any other PGRs. Phytochemical and molecular analysis depicted the same that cinnamate acts independently and also showed both synergistic and antagonistic interference with other PGRs viz., kinetin, auxin, gibberellic acid and abscisic acid.
•In this study, a comparative study had been undertaken to ascertain whether, the cinnamate its natural trans-isomer alone or in combination with other established growth regulators can have some physiological and biochemical effect on the growth and developmental parameters using a photosynthetic tissue as bioassay.•The present work is an effort in the direction to see whether cinnamate as such can be attributed with any growth regulation characterization when compared to long established promoters and inhibitors.•The work “Effect of Cinnamic acid and other established growth regulators like GA3, Kinetin, IAA and abscisic acid on growth, storage metabolites and enzyme activity in isolated cucumber cotyledons” is interesting and will be a new beginning about the role of cinnamic acid as a growth regulator.