Seasonal Changes of Some Metabolites in Hyoscyamus boveanus (Dunal) Asch. & Schweinf – Saint Katherine, South Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seasonal fluctuations on some metabolites and to explore the correlation between soil and plant analysis in Hyoscyamus boveanus (H.boveanus) at the Wadi El-Sheikh Awad in Saint Katherine, South Sinai, Egypt. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for physical and chemical properties of the soil associated with H. boveanus during 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths, which increased most of them during the first depth. All chemical composition contents of H. boveanus are influenced significantly (p < 0.05) by seasons studied, except Na+, glycosides, total phenol, crude protein contents. A substantial increase in mineral composition (Na+, K+, P and Fe2+), total alkaloids, glycosides, total phenol, proline, total carbohydrates and all photosynthetic pigments contents were recorded in H. boveanus during the summer season. While, the mineral composition (Ca2+, Mg2+, S, N and Cl-), water content and crude protein contents appeared to be higher in the winter season. The relationships between soil and plant variables were delineated by performing the principal component analysis (PCA). The PC1 and PC2 displayed differences between the soil and plant variables, also, the variables Mg2+, Cl-, pH, EC, Ca2+ and K+ in the soil associated with H. boveanus are variables with better chemical properties of the soil, which affect the plant distribution in Wadi El-Sheikh Awad during the two seasons. The PCA revealed high positive correlations among soil variables as well as among plant variables. Soil magnesium correlated highly and positively with the plant variables i.e., crude protein, water content, Chl b, Chl a+b, carotein and total pigment contents. The pH, EC, and Ca2+ in soil were positively correlated with all chemical composition contents of H. boveanus. Some metabolites in H. boveanus were significantly increased during the summer season compared to the other season, due to the activation of plant physiological stress tolerance mechanisms.