PJB-2017-789
Moringa leaf extracts as biostimulants-inducing salinity tolerance in the sweet basil plant
Raifa hassanein
Abstract
Salinity of soil and water is the threat limiting crop productivity, particularly in dry regions where water scarcity is the challenging factor for plants growth and development. There is evidence that biostimulants from plants are involved in supporting plant growth, tolerance and yielding under salinity stress. For better understanding the role of Moringa as biostimulants; leaves were collected during June/2015 from Moringa oleifera (MO) and Moringe peregrena (MP) mature trees growing in Orman garden located in El-kanater in Egypt. Moringa aqueous leaf extracts (20%, 10%, 5% and 2.5%) were used for three-month irrigation of salt-free sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Crispum) as well as salt-stressed basil. Salt was induced using 100 mM NaCl. Moringa leaf extracts have generally amended the stress effect via decreasing proline level in basil. The malondialdehyde found to be much reduced with MP treatment. The best recovery has appeared upon using 10%, and observed as leaf area enlargement in basil by 60% under the effect of saline soil as compared to the control. The other vegetative parameters have also increased by: 32%, 38% of shoot length, 50%, 109% for shoot fresh weight, 123%, 84% for shoot dry weight, 75%, 87% of the number of branches, 40%, 63% of root length and 142, 225% of root dry weight when10% of MO and MP leaf extract was applied, respectively. MO treatment leads to significant increase in anthocyanins, total carbohydrates and superoxide dismutase in basil. Alternatively, MP caused increased ascorbic acid oxidase activity in basil leaf. The biochemical composition of MP revealed an abundance of specific hormones, ascorbic acids, reduced glutathione, minerals and phenols like salicylic acid. On the other hand, MO was rich in total carbohydrates, nitrogenous compounds and total phenols. The variance between Moringa species regarding their chemical composition is the key factor regulating resistance strategies in basil. The role of MP as biostimulant is particularly important as MP is rich in ascorbic acids and reduced glutathione. We hypothesized that the biostimulanting effect might become more efficient when both Moringa extracts are used in basil agriculture.
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