Exogenous Application of Biostimulants and Synthetic Growth Promoters Improved the Productivity and Grain Quality of Quinoa Linked with Enhanced Photosynthetic Pigments and Metabolomics

Abstract

Modern agriculture is mainly concerned with maximum resource use efficiency linked with greater productivity to feed the growing global population. The exogenous application of biostimulants is considered a sustainable approach to improve the growth and productivity of field crops. The present study was carried out to explore the comparative impact of biostimulants and synthetic compounds on quinoa crop (cultivar UAF-Q7), as it has gained significant popularity among agricultural scientists and farmers throughout the world, due to its high nutritional profile. A two-year field experiment was carried out at the Research Area of Directorate of Farms, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) produced the maximum total chlorophyll (5.11 mg g−1) and carotenoids (1.2 mg g−1), compared with the control. Antioxidants’ activities and gas exchange attributes were also recorded as the highest following MLE application. Mineral elements in root and in shoot were found highest in response to MLE application. Similarly, application of MLE significantly improved the growth and yield attributes of quinoa. Mineral elements of grain (Mg, Zn and Fe) were also significantly enhanced. MLE was found to be more responsive in improving the growth and quality compared with synthetic compounds.

Foliar application of potassium and moringa leaf extract improves growth, physiology and productivity of kabuli chickpea grown under varying sowing regimes

“…Younas et al [37] also reported that external application of chemicals induces resistant against the diseases in field crops. Currently, farmers are conscious about inorganic fertilization to increase crop production and maintaining soil fertility but there is need to promote the use of organic fertilizers and explore safe, alternative and natural plant based nutrients [38][39][40]. Tabaxi et al [41] also concluded that organic fertilization is also responsible for quantity as well as quality of produce cultivated under field conditions.…”

Hydrogen peroxide signal photosynthetic acclimation of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Micro-Tom under water deficit

“…2 a). Other investigations found comparable findings in various plant species where the H 2 O 2 supply promoted growth 18 , 29 . In this investigation, there was a larger dry mass buildup in watered plants that received H 2 O 2 (Figs.…”

Presence and future of plant phenotyping approaches in biostimulant research and development

“…Many of these studies are reporting successful use of a biostimulant application in the early stages of a plant’s development ( Amooaghaie and Moghym, 2011 ; Khan et al , 2017 ; Batool et al , 2020 ). However, recent studies were focused on the biostimulant effect on plant production under different conditions ( Khan et al , 2021 ; Rashid et al, 2021a , b ; Jiménez-Arias et al , 2022 ). Interestingly, in the VOSviewer analysis, no term strictly related to plant phenotyping appears in any of the three items on the map.…”