Evaluation of Humic Acid Application Methods for Yield and Yield Components of Mungbean

A triplicate field experiment laid out in randomized complete block design was conducted to evaluate different humic acid (HA) application methods at Agricultural Research Farm, of KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar. Three methods of HA application: seed priming, foliar spray and soil application were included in the experiment. Humic acid application methods significantly affected pods plant-1, grains pod-1, 1000 grain weights, and grain yield whereas biological yield was not significantly affected by HA application methods. Humic acid application at the rate of 3 kg&middotha-1 resulted in higher number of pods plant-1, thousand grain weights and grain yield, however it was statistically similar to the treatments where HA was soil applied at rate of 1 and 2 kg&middotha-1, seed priming with 0% (water soaked), 1%, 2% HA solution and foliar spray with 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1% of HA solution. It is concluded that HA application in all the three methods significantly enhances grain yield and yield components of mungbean.

腐植酸施用方法对绿豆产量及其构成因子的影响

为了探索腐植酸(HA)的施用方法,在白沙瓦开伯尔-普什图省农业大学的农业研究农场内进行了完全随机区组设计试验,并设置3次重复。HA的施用方法分为浸种、叶片喷施和土壤施用3种。HA的施用方法对绿豆单株结荚数、每荚粒数、千粒重和籽粒产量具有显著影响,而对绿豆生物量影响不大。每公顷土地施用3 kg HA能显著提高绿豆结荚率、千粒重和产量;而土壤中加入1 kg/hm^2和2 kg/hm^2 HA,浓度为0、1%、2%的HA浸种和0.01%、0.05%、0.1%的HA叶面喷施3种方法所得到的结果在统计学上相似。由此得出结论:3种施用HA的方法均能显著提高绿豆产量及其构成因子。

Mutualistic fungal endophytes produce phytohormones and organic acids that promote japonica rice plant growth under prolonged heat stress

This study identifies the potential role in heat-stress mitigation of phytohormones and other secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces formosus LWL1 in japonica rice cultivar Dongjin. The japonica rice was grown in controlled chamber conditions with and without P. formosus LWL1 under no stress （NS） and prolonged heat stress （HS） conditions. Endophytic association under NS and HS conditions significantly improved plant growth attributes, such as plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Furthermore, P. for- mosus LWL1 protected the rice plants from HS compared with controls, indicated by the lower endogenous level of stress-signaling compounds such as abscisic acid （25.71%） and jasmonic acid （34.57%） and the increase in total protein content （18.76%-33.22%）. Such fungal endophytes may be helpful for sustainable crop production under high environmental temperatures.

Endophytes from medicinal plants and their potential for producing indole acetic acid, improving seed germination and mitigating oxidative stress

Medicinal plants have been used by marginal communities to treat various ailments. However, the potential of endophytes within these bio-prospective medicinal plants remains unknown. The present study elucidates the endophytic diversity of medicinal plants（Caralluma acutangula, Rhazya stricta, and Moringa peregrina） and the endophyte role in seed growth and oxidative stress. Various organs of medicinal plants yielded ten endophytes, which were identified as Phoma sp.（6 isolates）, Alternaria sp.（2）, Bipolaris sp.（1）, and Cladosporium sp.（1） based on 18 S rD NA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The culture filtrates（CFs; 25%, 50%, and 100% concentrations） from these endophytes were tested against the growth of normal and dwarf mutant rice lines. Endophytic CF exhibited dose-dependent growth stimulation and suppression effects. CF（100%） of Phoma sp. significantly increased rice seed germination and growth compared to controls and other endophytes. This growth-promoting effect was due to the presence of indole acetic acid in endophytic CF. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry（GC/MS） analysis showed the highest indole acetic acid content（（54.31±0.21） μmol/L） in Bipolaris sp. In addition, the isolate of Bipolaris sp. exhibited significantly higher radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activity than the other isolates. Bipolaris sp. and Phoma sp. also exhibited significantly higher flavonoid and phenolic contents. The medicinal plants exhibited the presence of bio-prospective endophytic strains, which could be used for the improvement of crop growth and the mitigation of oxidative stresses.

Additive effects due to biochar and endophyte application enable soybean to enhance nutrient uptake and modulate nutritional parameters

We studied the effects of hardwood-derived biochar（BC） and the phytohormone-producing endophyte Galactomyces geotrichum WLL1 in soybean（Glycine max（L.） Merr.） with respect to basic, macro- and micronutrient uptakes and assimilations, and their subsequent effects on the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl（DPPH）-scavenging activity. The assimilation of basic nutrients such as nitrogen was up-regulated, leaving carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen unaffected in BC＋G. geotrichum-treated soybean plants. In comparison, the uptakes of macro- and micronutrients fluctuated in the individual or co-application of BC and G. geotrichum in soybean plant organs and rhizospheric substrate. Moreover, the same attribute was recorded for the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and DPPH-scavenging activity. Collectively, these results showed that BC＋G. geotrichum-treated soybean yielded better results than did the plants treated with individual applications. It was concluded that BC is an additional nutriment source and that the G. geotrichum acts as a plant biostimulating source and the effects of both are additive towards plant growth promotion. Strategies involving the incorporation of BC and endophytic symbiosis may help achieve eco-friendly agricultural production, thus reducing the excessive use of chemical agents.