Page 94 - Book of Abstracts

5 International Scientific Online Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.15414/2021.9788055224015

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DYNAMICS OF CYANOGENIC GLYCOSIDES ACCUMULATION IN PRUNUS SPINOSA L.
SPROUTS
Volodymyr Levon, Iryna Golubkova
M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
Kyiv, Ukraine; E-mail.: vflevon@gmail.com
Currently, among the large variety of Prunus species, the thorn (Prunus spinosa L.) is of
considerable interest, which is characterized by high productivity, frost and winter hardiness,
resistance to pests and diseases, and is a valuable breeding material for further study.
For the majority of introduced fruit plants, the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine is the northern
border of successful fruiting. A certain number of forms and species of different types of fruit
plants, especially of southern origin, have undergone strict natural and artificial selection over
several generations. But all of them are damaged to a certain extent by critical temperatures in
winter and spring frosts, are affected by fungal diseases, as well as other negative factors of
biotic and abiotic origin. The resistance of the plant organism to various stressful situations is
determined by its adaptive potential. An important role in the adaptation processes is played
by secondary metabolites that take part in the biochemical adaptation of plants.
The cyanogenic glycoside prunasin is one of the characteristic elements of the metabolism
of stone fruits, and its accumulation is associated with certain phases or stages of plant
development. Prunasin itself is a non-toxic compound, but when plant tissues are destroyed,
such as when eaten by animals, it interacts with specific enzymes, resulting in the formation of
benzaldehyde and prussic acid. Prussic acid, as a result of its high toxicity, protects the plant
organism from pests and damage by pathogenic fungi and bacteria.
This work aims to establish the relationship between the content of prunasin in P. spinosa
sprouts and the processes of vital activity in certain periods. By tracking the quantitative
changes in prunasin during the annual cycle, it is possible to analyze the level of adaptation of
the plant to natural and climatic conditions.
For the quantitative determination of prunasin, the method of its hydrolysis to prussic
acid was used, which was then distilled with water vapor and captured with a certain amount
of mercury (II) nitrate. The excess mercury (II) nitrate was titrated with ammonium rhodanide.
For complete hydrolysis of prunasin, the crushed sample was filled with water for 1 day in the
presence of a small amount of thymol as a fixing agent and diethyl ether to separate the organic
phase from the inorganic one.
The study of the dynamics of prunasin accumulation in P. spinosa sprouts showed that the
maximum accumulation of prunasin occurs at critical moments of plant life: April-May-the
active beginning of the growing season; June-July – the first wave of growth (the largest growth
of sprouts); August-September – the second wave of growth; November – preparation for
winter. In winter, there is a decrease in the content of prunasin. This can be explained by a
decrease in all the functions of the plant organism at low temperatures, a state of rest when
cyanogenesis also slows down.
The experimental data obtained indicate that cyanogenesis plays an important role in the
physiology of the protective reactions of P. spinosa plants. Therefore, further study of the
mechanism of cyanogenesis for this culture is an urgent task.
Keywords: Prunus spinosa, sprouts, cyanogenic glycosides, cyanogenesis.

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5 International Scientific Conference Agrobiodiversity for Improving the Nutrition, Health, Quality of Life and |93
Spiritual Human Development
November 3 2021
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