Acetylsalicylic acid enhance tolerance of Phaseolus vulgaris L. to chilling stress, improving photosynthesis, antioxidants and expression of cold stress responsive genes

Climate change and global warming generate different kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses that in turn alter plant responses at the transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic levels (Chartzoulakis and Psarras 2005; Khan and Khan 2013; El Kelish et al. 2014). Moreover, climate change severely disturbs the biochemistry, quantity, and quality of crop yields (Jaleel et al. 2009; Miller et al. 2010; Cramer et al. 2011; Pereira 2016). Environmental challenges lead to a wide range of responses in plants, such as morphological, physiological, and molecular changes (Zandalinas et al. 2017). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the population is increasing rapidly and will reach approximately 10 billion in 2050. Moreover, food production is decreasing because of various abiotic stresses. As such, the earth will require 70% more food by 2050 (Mahajan and Tuteja 2005; Gill and Tuteja 2010). Therefore, it is necessary to obtain crops that display both enhanced vigor and tolerance to various environmental factors to cope with the future problem of food security (Bita and Gerats 2013).

Chilling injury can occur at temperatures between 0 and 15 °C (Kratsch and Wise 2000; Allen and Ort 2001). Various phenotypic symptoms of plants in response to chilling stress are clear, including reductions in leaf chlorophyll content, wilting, chlorosis, and necrosis. Moreover, different metabolic modifications are induced, such as reductions in unsaturated fatty acid contents and increases in the permeability of cell membranes, which collectively reduce plant performance (Bracale and Coraggio 2003; Tong et al. 2005; Miura and Furumoto 2013). One of the essential cellular response throughout a freeze–thaw cycle is the maintenance of plasma membrane integrity. This maintenance reduces the efficiency of photosystem II (PSII); damages photosystem I (PSI); alters the carbon reduction cycle, CO₂ assimilation, and photosynthetic pigment complex systems; and accelerates reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation (Guy 1990; Thomashow 2001; Allen and Ort 2001; Saibo et al. 2009).

Beans (Phaseolus lunatus), corn (Zea mays) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are considered relatively sensitive to environmental stress. Many studies have reported the impact of chilling injury and how short exposure to temperatures below freezing can destroy whole crops (Kratsch and Wise 2000; Chinnusamy et al. 2007). Most plants have developed numerous systems to manage performance during environmental stress. For instance, to minimize chilling-induced injury, plants can upregulate different scavenging systems, such as enzymatic antioxidants and non-enzymatic metabolites (Gill and Tuteja 2010). Moreover, plants can synthesize plant growth regulators [salicylic acid (SA)] and osmoprotectants (proline) (Gautam and Singh 2009; AbdElgawad et al. 2016; Tabassum et al. 2017). Most of these compounds shield membranes and the photosynthetic apparatus from the harmful effects of environmental stress (Foyer and Noctor 2003).

Among the best-recognized gene family is the CBF/DREB1 family, whose members play a major role in chilling tolerance in Arabidopsis (Thomashow 1998, 2001). CBF transcription factors act as a regulatory hub for low-temperature acclimation, controlling the expression of cold-regulated (COR) target genes that include CRT/DRE cis-elements in their promoters (Thomashow 2010). The overexpression of CBF leads to an intense activation of COR genes and successively enhances chilling and dehydration tolerance in sensitive plants (Kasuga et al. 1999; Jaglo et al. 2001). Furthermore, the constitutive overexpression of Arabidopsis CBF1/DREB1b confers chilling stress tolerance to cucumber and potato (Gupta et al. 2012; Movahedi et al. 2012; Caffagni et al. 2014). Thus, CBF/DREB1 is the primary and most critical regulatory gene associated with chilling stress in plants.

SA and ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid are essential signaling phenolic compounds associated with plant development and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses (Raskin 1992; Khan et al. 2003, 2012). SA is involved in the adjustment of vital plant physiochemical activities, such as the light and dark reactions, carbon–nitrogen metabolism, proline metabolism, and ROS scavenger systems, and therefore offers protection against abiotic stresses in plants (Khan et al. 2003; Saleh et al. 2007; Simaei et al. 2012; Miura and Tada 2014; Ruelland 2017). Aspirin, a trade name for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), can be obtained by the spontaneous hydrolysis of SA (Senaratna et al. 2000). Similarities between the chemical, physical, and physiological characteristics of ASA and SA have encouraged plant scientists to use the former in biological experiments (Kupferwasser et al. 1999; Canakci and Munzuroğlu 2007).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of exogenous ASA in rescuing Phaseolus vulgaris from the deleterious effects of chilling stress. The exogenous application of ASA may represent a strategy to increase plant tolerance to chilling stress by regulating antioxidant defense systems and increasing the levels of key metabolites and genes involved in chilling stress tolerance.

The application of ASA foliar sprays significantly improved various growth parameters of P. vulgaris seedlings exposed to different durations of chilling stress (Table 2). The shoot biomass of P. vulgaris seedlings subjected to 2 days of chilling stress significantly (p < 0.05) increased from 1.67 ± 0.03 g in the non-ASA-treated seedlings to 2.11 ± 0.08 g after foliar treatment with 1 mM ASA (Table 2). The differences among treatments were assessed statistically using two-way ANOVA followed by DMRT comparisons; the means with different letters significantly differ at the p < 0.05 level. The shoot dry weight also increased from 0.64 ± 0.01 g in the non-ASA-treated P. vulgaris seedlings to 1.25 ± 0.01 g after foliar treatment with 1 mM ASA (Table 2). The ASA foliar sprays significantly improved the growth of P. vulgaris seedlings subjected to chilling stress for 4 days. The shoot FW and DW significantly (p < 0.05) increased. Maximum shoot FW and DW values of 2.48 ± 0.002 and 1.72 ± 0.01 g, respectively, were recorded following foliar treatment with 1 mM ASA. The ASA foliar sprays significantly rescued the growth and photosynthetic pigments of P. vulgaris seedlings under different chilling stress levels (2 and 4 days).

The carbohydrate metabolism in P. vulgaris seedlings was assessed with respect to the total soluble sugar content (mg g⁻¹ FW). The total soluble sugars significantly (F_(chilling) = 50,361.9; p < 0.05) increased between 0 and 4 days of chilling stress in seedlings treated with all concentrations of foliar-sprayed ASA (Fig. 1). The total soluble sugars in the non-stressed P. vulgaris seedlings did not significantly (p > 0.05) change after being treated with different concentrations of foliar-sprayed ASA (Fig. 1). However, compared with that in non-stressed P. vulgaris control seedlings, the total soluble sugar content in P. vulgaris seedlings subjected to 2 or 4 days of chilling stress significantly increased in response to all concentrations of ASA foliar sprays. Foliar treatment with ASA significantly increased the total soluble sugars; the 1 mM concentration especially increased the soluble sugars from 35.55 ± 0.18 in non-stressed plants to 55.67 ± 0.073 or 65.47 ± 0.0028 mg g⁻¹ FW after 2 or 4 days of chilling stresses (Fig. 1).

Chilling stress induced a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in total protein and free amino acid contents in P. vulgaris seedlings (Fig. 2a). The total protein content was 9.69 ± 0.007, 6.76 ± 0.006 and 4.67 ± 0.019 mg g⁻¹ FW in non-ASA-sprayed seedlings subjected to chilling stress for 0, 2 and 4 days, respectively; the total free amino acids in the non-ASA-sprayed seedlings reached levels of 15.25 ± 0.014, 13.15 ± 0.028 and 12.95 ± 0.014 under the same chilling stress durations; respectively. The treatment of P. vulgaris with different concentrations of foliar-sprayed ASA did not induce significant changes in either total protein content or total free amino acids (Fig. 2a, b). However, the protein content of seedlings slightly increased after they were treated with foliar sprays with certain concentrations of ASA. The maximum increase in protein content was recorded in the seedlings treated with 0.5 mM ASA; the protein contents reached 7.13 ± 0.013 and 5.27 ± 0.001 mg g⁻¹ FW in the seedlings subjected to chilling stress for 2 and 4 days, respectively. However, the maximum levels of free amino acids were 13.93 ± 0.00 and 13.93 ± 0.02 mg g⁻¹ FW in the seedlings subjected to chilling stress for 2 and 4 days, respectively, following treatment with 3 mM ASA (Fig. 2b).

Proline metabolism, in terms of proline content (mg g⁻¹ FW), was monitored in the P. vulgaris seedlings (Fig. 2c). Proline accumulated significantly (p < 0.05) in the cells of P. vulgaris seedlings not treated with ASA in response to chilling stress. The proline accumulation increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 24.36 ± 0.011 mg g⁻¹ FW in the non-stressed seedlings to 28.40 ± 0.20 and 68.51 ± 0.068 mg g⁻¹ FW in those subjected to chilling stress for 2 and 4 days (Fig. 2c). However, treatment with ASA significantly (p < 0.05) increased the accumulation of proline in P. vulgaris, e.g., treatment with 3 mM ASA increased the accumulation from 24.35 ± 0.005 mg g⁻¹ FW in the non-stressed seedlings to 41.16 ± 0.44 and 91.35 ± 0.007 mg g⁻¹ FW in the seedlings subjected to chilling stress for 2 and 4 days (Fig. 2c).

Cellular lipid peroxidation in terms of MDA was monitored. This method is well recognized to reflect oxidative damage caused by chilling stress. Chilling stress significantly increased cellular lipid peroxidation both in seedlings treated and not treated with ASA (Fig. 3). Compared with the non-stressed control P. vulgaris seedlings, the non-stressed ASA-treated P. vulgaris seedlings had significantly higher MDA levels under chilling stress and displayed levels of 30.35 ± 0.07 and 39.05 ± 0.070 μmol g⁻¹ FW under chilling stress of 2 and 4 days, respectively, following treatment with 3 mM ASA (Fig. 3). The MDA concentrations increased as the duration of low-temperature stress increased during the experiment (Fig. 3). Moreover, the MDA contents in non-stressed seedlings were slightly affected by ASA applications. However, these contents significantly increased in seedlings exposed to different durations of chilling stress (Fig. 3).

The content of AA, a non-enzymatic antioxidant, increased significantly (p < 0.0.5) during the experiment and peaked at 39.33 ± 0.14 mg g⁻¹ FW after 2 mM ASA and 2 days of chilling stress. The highest level of increase in AA at 4 days of chilling stress was 35.90 ± 0.11 mg g⁻¹ FW, recorded after 3 mM ASA treatment (Fig. 4a).

The enzymatic activities of four antioxidant enzymes, namely, APX, SOD, CAT, and POD, were also monitored in all the experimental variants (Figs. 4b, 5, 6). The activities of the antioxidant enzymes APX, POD, and SOD significantly (p < 0.05) increased in response to the different levels of chilling stress; however, CAT activity decreased (Figs. 4b, 5, 6). The activities of the antioxidant enzymes APX, SOD, POD, and CAT significantly increased in response to the application of exogenous ASA, alleviating the adverse effects of chilling stress.

With respect to the qRT-PCR analysis results, the fluorescence intensity of each clone was divided by its corresponding control, after which the relative mRNA levels of CBF3 and COR47 after 0, 2 and 4 days of chilling stress were quantified using RT-qPCR for the seedlings in each of the ASA concentration treatments (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mM). The CBF3 gene expression results presented in Fig. 7a that, compared with the CBF3 gene expression in the control treatment at 0 days (0.81-fold), the maximum expression of the CBF3 gene of 7.72 ± 0.10 was recorded in response to the 2 mM ASA concentration after 2 days (7.72-fold), followed by the 1 mM ASA concentration after 4 days (7.47-fold), the 1 mM ASA concentration after 2 days (7.46-fold), the 0.5 mM ASA concentration after 2 days (6.72-fold), the 0.5 mM ASA concentration after 4 days (6.54-fold) and the 3 mM ASA concentration after 2 days (6.35-fold). The COR47 gene expression results (Fig. 7b) revealed that, compared with the COR47 gene expression levels of the control treatment after 0 days (0.69-fold), the maximum expression levels of the COR47 gene were recorded in response to the 2 mM ASA concentration after 2 days (2.72-fold), followed by the 1 mM ASA concentration after 2 days (2.72-fold), the 1 mM ASA concentration after 4 days (2.69-fold), the 2 mM ASA concentration after 4 days and the 3 mM ASA concentration after 2 days.

The application of exogenous ASA alleviated the adverse effects of chilling stresses for all measured parameters, and the strongest effects were observed in response to 1 and 2 mM ASA. As such, pretreatment with ASA appeared to induce chilling tolerance.

Low-temperature or chilling stress tolerance is a critical feature for economic crops that originate in tropical or temperate regions worldwide. ASA and other phenolic compounds (e.g., SA and benzoic acid) can enhance the chilling tolerance of plants (Kang and Saltveit 2001; Kang et al. 2003; Chinnusamy et al. 2007).

The current study revealed that all growth characteristics and photosynthetic pigments of P. vulgaris increased as ASA concentrations increased to a certain level during the chilling stress conditions and that the most significant reduction was observed in the control plants. The most adverse effects of chilling stress observed in the untreated seedlings included reductions in FW, DW, the shoot: root ratio and chlorophyll content (Table 2). The ASA treatment improved the growth characteristics to a certain level under chilling stress; ASA, therefore, acts as a growth stimulant. These effects of ASA application were in agreement with the findings of Senaratna et al. (2000), who reported that 100% of tomato and bean seedlings treated with 0.5 mM ASA survived under chilling stress, while the control plants did not. Moreover, Gharib and Hegazi (2010) reported that soaking P. vulgaris seeds in 0.1 mM SA solution also significantly enhance the germination rate, germination percentage and seedling trait under standard and low-temperature stress conditions. Similarly, different morphological and growth criteria of tomato plants treated with foliar applications of salicylaldehyde were enhanced (Kord and Hathout 1992).

Low temperatures cause an imbalance between light harvest and energy use; in turn, the superoxide anion is generated, inducing oxidative stress in chloroplasts (Einset et al. 2007; Gill and Tuteja 2010). ROS can damage the photosynthetic apparatus through the disarrangement of thylakoid structures, suppression of chloroplastic enzymes, and inhibition of D1 protein biosynthesis; the D1 protein is needed for the PSII repair process (Gururani et al. 2015; Choudhury et al. 2017). The exogenous application of ASA most likely significantly increases the activity of the antioxidant system, directly impacting the intensity of photosynthesis. Li and his co-workers (2014) reported that SA significantly enhances Torreya grandis biomass under salinity stress due to the improvement in chlorophyll content and the flow of antioxidant enzyme activity that consequently alleviates oxidative stress and enhances the photosynthetic process. Furthermore, the exogenous application of SA effectively prevents iron deficiency, which is the primary cause of plant chlorosis (Kong et al. 2014).

Moreover, changes in total soluble sugars (Fig. 1) and carbohydrate metabolism act as energy factors required for driving acclimation under chilling stress (Gusta and Wisniewski 2013). By interacting with the lipid bilayer, sucrose and other sugars (as compatible solutes) significantly affect plant freezing tolerance and the protection of cellular membranes from damage (Hansen et al. 1997; Liu et al. 1998; Shalaev and Steponkus 2001; Frankow-Lindberg 2001; Arroyo et al. 2003; Shao et al. 2007). The accumulation of soluble sugars contributes to increased membrane cryostability, which is a prerequisite for freezing tolerance in plants (Arroyo et al. 2003; Shao et al. 2007; Gusta and Wisniewski 2013). In agreement with the findings of Nafeh and Hegazi (2009), the present study showed that ASA treatment improved plant tolerance against chilling stress and, compared with those under normal conditions, significantly increases in soluble sugars content. Under stress conditions, increases in soluble sugars lead to enhanced resistance against water loss, the protection of chloroplasts and the acceleration of plant growth (Khodary 2004; Kader et al. 2011; Fayez and Bazaid 2014).

ASA has a protective role. It neutralizes free radicals induced by chilling stress and prevents the destruction of proteins, and in the present study, it increased the amount of protein in treated seedlings (Shinozaki et al. 2003). In response to chilling stress, plants lower the osmotic potential of the cytosol by synthesizing and accumulating compatible solutes and by synthesizing cold acclimation-induced proteins, all of which trigger crop tolerance to chilling stress (Frankow-Lindberg 2001; Murakeözy et al. 2003; Yancey 2005).

Free proline is involved in plant resistance and accumulates under several stress conditions (Parvanova et al. 2004; Demiral and Turkan 2005; Awasthi et al. 2015). In our findings, the proline content significantly increased in the chilling-stressed seedlings of P. vulgaris treated with different levels of ASA (Fig. 2). Our data suggest that proline plays a role in the protection against chilling stress by assisting osmotic regulation, removing hydroxyl free radicals and avoiding the destruction of enzymes (Kuznetsov and Shevyakova 1999). The accumulation of free proline also constitutes a vital element of tolerance in other species (Barka et al. 2006; Apostolova et al. 2008; Esra et al. 2010). Treatment with 0.5 mM SA mitigates heat stress by increasing proline production by increasing γ-glutamyl kinase and decreasing proline oxidase activity, resulting in the promotion of osmotic potential necessary for maintaining crucial physiological processes (Khan et al. 2013).

Measurements of MDA are usually used to assess the extent of membrane damage caused by chilling stress. The present study found that, compared with the control applications, exogenous applications of ASA failed to reduce the severity of membrane damage (Fig. 3). Mittler et al. (2004) proposed that membrane damage might be caused by high H₂O₂ levels, which could accelerate the Haber–Weiss reaction, resulting in hydroxyl radical formation and thus lipid peroxidation.

The total AA concentrations increased markedly in ASA-treated common bean seedlings as well as in those subjected to chilling stress (Fig. 4). This increase may occur because the AA proved to be a ubiquitous compound that effectively boosts stress tolerance in plants (Miguel et al. 2006; Khan et al. 2012; Naz et al. 2016). AA have a major role during the minimization of ROS activity by enzymatic and non-enzymatic detoxification (Mittler et al. 2004; Borland et al. 2006; Shao et al. 2007). Our findings are in line with those of Kader et al. (2011), who reported that the ascorbate content increased in wheat plants under chilling stress. Our results agree with those of Tirani et al. (2013), who confirmed that SA induces an increase in the AA content in canola plants; those authors suggested that the increase in AA occurs because SA affects the pathways of AA biosynthesis.

Chilling stress triggers the formation of ROS, which in turn leads to stronger oxidative stress in plants. However, ROS can be classified as signaling molecules that regulate plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses (Apel and Hirt 2004; Mittler et al. 2004; Perez and Brown 2014). In our research, the SOD, POD and APX enzyme activities significantly increased during chilling stress and in response to foliar applications of ASA, while the CAT enzyme activity decreased (Figs. 4, 5). The enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activity under chilling stress has been reported in many plant species (Hodges et al. 1996; Kratsch and Wise 2000; Bracale and Coraggio 2003; Einset et al. 2007; Zhao et al. 2013; Ruelland 2017). When applied at low concentrations, SA causes transient oxidative stress in plants, which acts as a hardening process, increasing the antioxidant capacity of plants (Wang et al. 2003; Horváth et al. 2007). Exogenous applications of SA can prevent isozyme activity, including that of CAT-1 and CAT-2, which in turn can mediate responses to low-temperature stress in Z. mays plants (Horváth et al. 2007). In the present study, by inducing the activity of APX, POX, and SOD, ASA strongly reduced the effects of chilling stress on all parameters measured in the plants. Similar results were also reported by Mutlu et al. (2013) and He and Zhu (2008) in wheat and tomato, respectively. Positive correlations among SOD, POD and APX activities suggest that increased SOD activity is accompanied by increases in POD and APX activities because of the high demand from H₂O₂ quenching (Senaratna et al. 2000).

Low-temperature stress triggers the expression of chilling stress-associated genes. Among several cold signaling pathways, the involvement of CBF3 and COR47 is critical in plant chilling tolerance and cold acclimation (Miura and Furumoto 2013). Our results demonstrate that the CBF3 and COR47 genes exhibit a significant increase in their relative expression level (fold change) in accordance with the application of different ASA concentrations to plants under chilling stress (Fig. 7a, b). Chilling stress amplified the expression of the tested CBF3 genes in the P. vulgaris seedlings (Fig. 7a), suggesting a functional similarity of CBFs in P. vulgaris as well as Arabidopsis in response to low-temperature stress (Gilmour et al. 2004; Thomashow 2010). Application of ASA under chilling stress enhanced the expression of CBF3 together with the COR47 gene (Fig. 7b). In Arabidopsis, three CBF/DREB1 proteins take part in the control of COR gene expression and chilling tolerance (Gilmour et al. 2000, 2004). A calmodulin-binding transcription activator, CAMTA3/AtSR1, identifies the promoter of CBF2/DREB1C to upregulate genes associated with chilling tolerance, indicating that SA signaling and low-temperature signaling are interconnected (Du et al. 2009; Doherty et al. 2009).

Overexpression of CfCBF3 increases chilling tolerance and causes no dwarf phenotype (Hanin et al. 2011). This overexpression also leads to multiple biochemical and physiological changes associated with chilling stress. Higher contents of proline and soluble sugars and lower contents of ROS have been observed in transgenic plants (Yang et al. 2011; Miura and Furumoto 2013).

Chilling temperatures are responsible for a range of physiological disturbances in chilling-sensitive plants and can cause chilling injury and death of many horticulture plants such as P. vulgaris. In this study, the chilling tolerance of P. vulgaris could be significantly improved by the exogenous application of ASA. The physiological and molecular data ultimately revealed that ASA could mutually induce and maintain homeostasis to exert synergistic effects on common bean plant chilling stress. The present study confirmed that the optimum concentrations of ASA for alleviating the effects of chilling stress proved to be 1 and 2 mM ASA, as maximum stimulation of the antioxidant enzyme system occurred in response to these concentrations. These results indicate that ASA can effectively be used to protect P. vulgaris from the damaging effects of chilling stress during the early stages of growth.