Influence of DNA Oligonucleotides Used as Insecticides on Biochemical Parameters of “Quercus Robur” and “Malus Domestica“

Abstract

In this paper we evaluated the impact of the DNA oligonucleotides used as insecticides on the biochemical parameters of English oak (Quercus robur) and apple seedlings (Malus domestica). The assessment of the biochemical parameters of the plants was based on the measurement of the alkaline phosphatase activity and glucose concentration, important markers in plant cell, in the leaves of English oak and apple seedlings. We have found that the use of the RING domain fragment in a concentration of 5 pmol/cm² of plant leaf, leads to a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in apple seedlings (p<0.05) and to a significant decrease in the concentration of glucose in the leaves of English oak (p<0.01) compared to the control, 24 hours after the treatment. However, the values of the parameters in the experimental groups were non-significant, compared to the control on the 7^th day. These results suggest the absence of a long-term negative effect of the DNA oligonucleotides on apple seedlings and leaves of English oak.