PJB-2020-164
Influence of diverse climatic conditions on physiological, biochemical and antioxidant activities of wild milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.)
Mehreen Javeria
Abstract
Wild Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) plants were collected from ten different locations of Punjab, Pakistan during the years 2018 and 2019. These locations have variations for soil characteristics and climatic conditions. Significant variations were noted in all the parameters from location to location as well as year to year. Antioxidant activities i.e. catalases (CAT), peroxidase dismutase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) changed significantly under fluctuating climatic conditions. Changes in antioxidant activities altered the defense mechanism of milk thistle and caused better balance in plant metabolism to survive. Ionic concentrations (NPK) in stem, leaves and roots also changed significantly. Location Dina showed the best results for physiological, antioxidant activities and ionic contents among all the locations. The soil of Dina location was sandy loam with 0.65 dS/m EC, 0.65% organic matter and 47% soil saturation. Location Dina had a maximum temperature of 25oC, average temperature of 21oC and high amounts of rainfall (838mm) with 84% humidity. It was concluded that milk thistle required an optimum soil and climatic conditions similar to location Dina for its best growth and metabolism. These physiological and biochemical indicators can be used to evaluate the milk thistle response towards diverse climatic conditions.
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