The Effect of Nodulation Inducers on Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Yield and Nodulation under Optimal and Salinity Conditions
Journal Title: Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research - Year 2020, Vol 18, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction Luteolin is one of the most important flavonoids, which release from seeds during the first four hours of imbibition. On the other hand, at present, salinity is one of the most important factors in reducing crop production. The results of some studies show that the use of external flavonoids increases expression of nod genes, yield and nodulation in some legumes species under stress conditions. Therefore, this experiment was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of luteolin and alfalfa seed exudates external inducers on the expression of Rhizobium nod gene and the yield and nodulation of alfalfa in normal and salinity condition. Materials and Methods We studied the effect of luteolin on the induction of nod genes in R. Meliloti carrying a plasmid with a translational fusion between R. Meliloti nodA and lacZ of Escherichia coli, and the expression activity was measured by β-galactosidase activity. Luteolin strongly induced the expression of nod genes inhibitory effects. We further studied the effect of luteolin and Seed exudate on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield and nodulation under optimal and salinity condition. One greenhouse was conducted to determine whether the pre-incubation of Rhizobium meliloti with luteolin and application of luteolin and seed exudate directly on to the seed surface can increase alfalfa nodulation and yield. The factorial experiment was arranged based on randomized complete block design, with three replications. Treatments were two cultivars, two bacterial strains (Sensitive and resistant strains), two levels of salt (0 and 15 dS.m-1 of NaCl) and two levels of application of inducers along with control. Results and Discussion The results from this experiment clearly indicated that inoculation of alfalfa seeds with luteolin and seed exudate increase alfalfa nodulation (47%) and yield (30%) significantly under salinity condition that these treats affect on traits more under normal condition. But significant effect was not observed on chlorophyll content. In this experiment a significant difference was not observed between the control and pre-incubation of R. meliloti. Also, salinity increased proline four times compared to normal condition. Luteolin and seed exudates increased proline 1.66 and 1.35 times respectively in salinity condition, but under normal condition they did not have significant effect. Salinity increased the content of sodium in the leaves (7 times) and roots (8.5 times) and decreased the content of potassium 29% and 24% in these organs of the plant, respectively, that, luteolin and seed exudate partially moderated these changes. Conclusions The results of this experiment indicated that luteolin and seed exudate can be used as exogenous inducers to improve the growth and nodulation of alfalfa under salinity and normal condition. Flavonoid inducers act in low concentration, and their negative effects relate to reduced germination and growth. In general, it seems that the application of flavonoid inducers is more suitable to improve nodulation, but the direct application of them in agriculture should be used only in specified cases and when flavonoids are as a limiting factor.
Authors and Affiliations
R Mardani,K Poustini,A. R Abbasi,A. A Pourbabaei,
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP718485
- DOI https://doi.org/10.22067/gsc.v18i1.71885
- Views 75
- Downloads 0
Evaluation of Yield, Yield Components, and Forage Quality in the Intercropping of Kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
IntroductionThe agricultural systems are facing numerous challenges in maintaining and providing food security. Achieving this goal, considering the growing global population is possible through the application of sustai...
Effect of Application of Nitrogen Doses Along with Biochar and Zinc Nanoparticles on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
IntroductionAmong the various nutrients, nitrogen (N) is the limiting element for crop yield, which application of the optimum doses of this fertilizer in addition to increasing the yield components and grain yield in pa...
The Response of Some Morphological and Physiological Traits of Landraces of Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) to Levels of Salinity and Defoliation Stress
Introduction: Environmental stresses are the most important factor in reducing the yield of agricultural products worldwide. Salinity and defoliation stresses are the most important environmental stresses that affect the...
Effects of Silicon Application at Nano and Micro Scales on the Growth and Production of Potato Minitubers (Solanum tuberosum Var. Agria) under Three Soil Texture
Introduction: Many experiments have shown that Silicon (Si) can reduce the effect of both biotic and abiotic stresses in plants caused by plant diseases, pest damage, salinity, drought, heavy metal toxicity, nutrient imb...
Evaluation of Waterlogging Tolerance in Twenty-One Cultivars and Genotypes of Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) and its Effect on some Physiological Characteristics of Shoot and Root System at the Three-Leaf Stage
IntroductionCovering a staggering 215 million hectares, wheat stands as the world's most extensively cultivated crop plant. Just like its botanical counterparts, wheat operates as an obligate aerobic organism, implying i...