AN OVERVIEW OF ASCORBIC ACID DEFENCE EFFECT IN PLANTS AGAINST DISEASES-RELATED PATHOGENS AND POLLUTANTS

Mudher Ali Hussein Al-Nuaimi*, Rawaa Muayad Mohammed Dehyaa

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a powerful antioxidant found in high concentrations in many plants. AA acts as the initial protective barrier against potentially harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), shielding plant cells from various external variables that might cause oxidative stress. Some of these stressors include pathogen infections, wounding, ozone exposure, and excessive salinity. Yet, vitamin C is more than just an antioxidant; it is also a cofactor for many enzymes involved in plants' metabolic processes. The production of AA in plants as an intermediate defence against invading pathogens at diverse places in plants and its interconnected network involves alterations in the nuclear expression of genes through retrograde signalling pathways, as well as systemic responses, which are all related to disease resistance. On another side, ascorbic acid was found to significantly impact hazardous environmental pollutants by inhibiting the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This event is responsible for oxidative stress in cells. This analysis shows that there has been significant recent development on the potential role of AAs in plants' tolerance to pathogenic infection and pollutants.