Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12

Tugba Kara; Sergul Ergin

doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1916132

EN TR

Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12

Abstract

Drought stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting crop productivity worldwide, necessitating effective strategies to enhance plant tolerance. This study investigated the effects of exogenous proline application (0, 5, 10, or 20 mM) on physiological responses and stress-associated protein accumulation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under drought stress conditions simulated by 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). Non-stressed or drought-stressed plants were treated with 0, 5, 10, or 20 mM proline. Drought stress significantly increased ion leakage and turgor loss while reducing relative water content (RWC) and total soluble protein (TSP) levels, indicating membrane destabilization and impaired protein homeostasis. Exogenous proline mitigated these effects in a concentration-dependent manner, with 5 and 10 mM treatments most effectively improving membrane stability and plant water status under drought conditions. Endogenous proline accumulation markedly increased under drought stress; however, exogenous application resulted in comparatively lower endogenous levels than drought-only plants. Immunoblot analyses revealed that drought strongly induced HSP60, two HSP23 isoforms (19 and 23 kDa), and 33 and 36 kDa dehydrin proteins. Proline treatments differentially modulated these stress-associated proteins, with moderate concentrations optimizing their accumulation, whereas higher doses amplified or suppressed specific responses depending on the protein examined. Notably, proline also altered protein expression patterns under non-stress conditions, indicating a regulatory or priming-like effect. These findings demonstrate that proline-mediated drought tolerance in pepper involves integrated osmotic regulation and stress-protein modulation, highlighting its potential as a concentration-dependent agronomic strategy to enhance crop resilience under water-limited conditions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Eskisehir Osmangazi University

Project Number

FYL 2022 2349

Ethical Statement

Not applicable

Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12

Abstract

Drought stress is a major abiotic constraint limiting crop productivity worldwide, necessitating effective strategies to enhance plant tolerance. This study investigated the effects of exogenous proline application (0, 5, 10, or 20 mM) on physiological responses and stress-associated protein accumulation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under drought stress conditions simulated by 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). Non-stressed or drought-stressed plants were treated with 0, 5, 10, or 20 mM proline. Drought stress significantly increased ion leakage and turgor loss while reducing relative water content (RWC) and total soluble protein (TSP) levels, indicating membrane destabilization and impaired protein homeostasis. Exogenous proline mitigated these effects in a concentration-dependent manner, with 5 and 10 mM treatments most effectively improving membrane stability and plant water status under drought conditions. Endogenous proline accumulation markedly increased under drought stress; however, exogenous application resulted in comparatively lower endogenous levels than drought-only plants. Immunoblot analyses revealed that drought strongly induced HSP60, two HSP23 isoforms (19 and 23 kDa), and 33 and 36 kDa dehydrin proteins. Proline treatments differentially modulated these stress-associated proteins, with moderate concentrations optimizing their accumulation, whereas higher doses amplified or suppressed specific responses depending on the protein examined. Notably, proline also altered protein expression patterns under non-stress conditions, indicating a regulatory or priming-like effect. These findings demonstrate that proline-mediated drought tolerance in pepper involves integrated osmotic regulation and stress-protein modulation, highlighting its potential as a concentration-dependent agronomic strategy to enhance crop resilience under water-limited conditions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi

Project Number

FYL 2022 2349

Ethical Statement

Uygulanabilir değil

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Vegetable Growing and Treatment, Plant Biotechnology in Agriculture

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tugba Kara
0000-0001-5431-0897
Türkiye

Sergul Ergin ^*
0000-0002-7720-5536
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 21, 2026

Submission Date

March 30, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 39

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1916132

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA85NN83TN

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kara, T., & Ergin, S. (2026). Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences, 39. https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1916132

AMA

1.Kara T, Ergin S. Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. 2026;39. doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1916132

Chicago

Kara, Tugba, and Sergul Ergin. 2026. “Exogenous Proline Modulates Heat Shock and Dehydrin Protein Expression in Drought-Stressed Capsicum Annuum L. Cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12”. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences 39 (September). https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1916132.

EndNote

Kara T, Ergin S (September 1, 2026) Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences 39

IEEE

[1]T. Kara and S. Ergin, “Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12”, Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.29136/mediterranean.1916132.

ISNAD

Kara, Tugba - Ergin, Sergul. “Exogenous Proline Modulates Heat Shock and Dehydrin Protein Expression in Drought-Stressed Capsicum Annuum L. Cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12”. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences 39 (September 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1916132.

JAMA

1.Kara T, Ergin S. Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. 2026;39. doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1916132.

MLA

Kara, Tugba, and Sergul Ergin. “Exogenous Proline Modulates Heat Shock and Dehydrin Protein Expression in Drought-Stressed Capsicum Annuum L. Cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12”. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39, Sept. 2026, doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1916132.

Vancouver

1.Tugba Kara, Sergul Ergin. Exogenous proline modulates heat shock and dehydrin protein expression in drought-stressed Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yalova Çorbacı 12. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. 2026 Sep. 1;39. doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1916132

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Ethical Responsibilities of Peer reviewers
The evaluation of all studies with "Blinding Peer reviewer" directly affects the quality of the publication. This process provides confidence through objective and independent evaluation of the publication. The evaluation process of Mediterr Agric Sci is carried out with the principle of double-blinded arbitration.
The peer reviewers cannot contact the authors directly. Reviews and comments are communicated through the journal management system. In this process, peer reviewer comments on evaluation forms and full texts are forwarded to the author (s) through the editor. In this context, peer reviewers evaluating the work for Mediterr Agric Sci are expected to have the following ethical responsibilities:
• Only work related to the field of expertise should accept the evaluation.
• Evaluate in neutrality and confidentiality.
• If he thinks that he is facing a conflict of interest during the evaluation process, he should refuse to review the study and inform the journal editor.
• Dispose of the studies they review in accordance with the principle of confidentiality after the evaluation process. They can only use the final versions of the studies they have reviewed after they are published.
• Evaluate objectively in relation to the content of the study. Nationality should not allow gender, religious beliefs, political beliefs and commercial concerns to influence assessment.
• Evaluate in a constructive and gentle language. Do not make humiliating personal comments that include hostility, slander and insult.
• Carry out the work they accept to evaluate in a timely manner and with the above ethical responsibilities.

Conflicts of interest
Editors; it ensures that the publication of the manuscripts is completed independently and impartially, taking into account conflicts of interest between the author (s), the peer reviewers and other editors.

Plagiarism Control
A plagiarism document is requested from the authors during the first submission; however, the journal reserves the right to check all submissions after peer-reviewing process through appropriate plagiarism checking tools. In accordance with the publication ethics of Mediterr Agric Sci, it is obligatory that plagiarism audits are carried out in order to protect the integrity of all studies that have passed through the Blind Arbitration Assessment Process ". Within this scope, a copy of each study is subject to plagiarism control by a company approved by the editorial board. The material responsible for the audit belongs to the author (s). Plagiarism is controlled by Turnitin and iThenticate software. Each work is analyzed in-depth by means of software, and the matching and citation matches are extracted. The remaining matches are examined and the errors are detected and reported to the editorial board. The editorial board makes the final decision about the study in the light of the plagiarism audit report of each study. Errors in the report may be requested to be corrected by the authors or the work may be returned to the authors.

Bibliography, Submission and Citation Control
Scientific research is based on previous studies. In the studies conducted, reference is made to the previous studies within the framework of certain rules and references. Mistakes made intentionally or unknowingly in scientific studies undermine the reliability of the study and publication. Mediterr Agric Sci sees it as imperative that accurate and complete references and citations are accepted as a result of the evaluation. Within this scope, after each work is accepted, a bibliography, sending and citation control is carried out by the editorial board. The material responsibility for the control carried out belongs to the author (s).
The bibliography, submission and citation control of accepted studies are carried out for the full text in the following steps:
• Bibliography is prepared in accordance with the procedures and principles contained in the Intructions for Authors section of the journal.
• It is checked whether the references in the text of each reference in the bibliography are given according to the procedures and principles, and the wrong ones are corrected.
• References to in-text references are checked. The missing ones are requested from the authors and the wrong ones are corrected. Procedures and principles of references for full text are taken into consideration.

Layout and Typesetting
Mediterr Agric Sci requires the uniformity of the articles, their readability and the standard and uniform print format required by the standards. In this context, plagiarism audit and bibliography editing are completed by the Editorial Board. The responsibility for the checking of the galleyproofs rests with the author (s).

Giving the DOI Number
The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique access number that allows the identification and access of each published work electronically. A DOI number is mandatory for each study published in Mediterr Agric Sci. Plagiarism audit, bibliography check and print version are prepared by the editorial board after the acceptance stage.