Fulvic acid increases forage legume growth inducing preferential upregulation of nodulation and signalling‐related genes

Capstaff, Nicola M, Morrison, Freddie, Cheema, Jitender, Brett, Paul, Hill, Lionel, Muñoz-García, Juan C., Khimyak, Yaroslav ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0424-4128, Domoney, Claire and Miller, Anthony J (2020) Fulvic acid increases forage legume growth inducing preferential upregulation of nodulation and signalling‐related genes. Journal of Experimental Botany, 71 (18). 5689–5704. ISSN 0022-0957

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Abstract

The use of potential biostimulants is of broad interest in plant science for improving yields. The application of a humic derivative called fulvic acid (FA) may improve forage crop production. FA is an uncharacterized mixture of chemicals and, although it has been reported to increase growth parameters in many species including legumes, its mode of action remains unclear. Previous studies of the action of FA have lacked appropriate controls, and few have included field trials. Here we report yield increases due to FA application in three European Medicago sativa cultivars, in studies which include the appropriate nutritional controls which hitherto have not been used. No significant growth stimulation was seen after FA treatment in grass species in this study at the treatment rate tested. Direct application to bacteria increased Rhizobium growth and, in M. sativa trials, root nodulation was stimulated. RNA transcriptional analysis of FA-treated plants revealed up-regulation of many important early nodulation signalling genes after only 3 d. Experiments in plate, glasshouse, and field environments showed yield increases, providing substantial evidence for the use of FA to benefit M. sativa forage production.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: forage crops,fulvic acid,humic substances,medicago sativa,nodulation,transcriptomic analysis,yield,physiology,plant science ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1314
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Pharmacy
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Pharmaceutical Materials and Soft Matter
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 17 Jul 2020 23:45
Last Modified: 20 Apr 2023 17:32
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/76163
DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa283

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