Phosphorus Acquisition Efficiency and Transcriptomic Changes in Maize Plants Treated with Two Lignohumates.

Lignohumates are increasing in popularity in agriculture, but their chemistry and effects on plants vary based on the source and processing. The present study evaluated the ability of two humates (H1 and H2) to boost maize plant performance under different phosphorus (P) availability (25 and 250 μM) conditions in hydroponics, while understanding the underlying mechanisms. Humates differed in chemical composition, as revealed via elemental analysis, phenol and phytohormone content, and thermal and spectroscopic analyses.

Bioactivity of Size-Fractionated and Unfractionated Humic Substances From Two Forest Soils and Comparative Effects on N and S Metabolism, Nutrition, and Root Anatomy of L.

Humic substances (HS) are powerful natural plant biostimulants. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the relationship between their structure and bioactivity in plants. We extracted HS (THE1-2) from two forest soils covered with (1) or (2).

Molecular and Morphological Changes Induced by Leonardite-based Biostimulant in L.

Humic substances extracted from leonardite are widely considered to be bioactive compounds, influencing the whole-plant physiology and the crop yield. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a new formulate based on leonardite in the early stage of growth of sugar beet ( L.).

Evaluation of Seaweed Extracts From and spp. as Biostimulants in L. Using a Combination of Chemical, Biochemical and Morphological Approaches.

Seaweed extracts can be employed as biostimulants during crop cultivation owing to their positive effects on plant performance. Therefore, in this study one extract from (A) and five extracts from (B-F) were assayed on maize ( L.) plants supplied for 2 days with 0.

Biological Activity of Vegetal Extracts Containing Phenols on Plant Metabolism.

The influence of vegetal extracts derived from red grape, blueberry fruits and hawthorn leaves on Zea mays L. plant growth and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), a key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway, was investigated in laboratory experiments. The extracts were characterized using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies in order to obtain a pattern of the main functional groups.

Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Succession in Different Substrates as Affected by the Co-Application of Three Pesticides.

Introduction: In intensive agriculture areas the use of pesticides can alter soil properties and microbial community structure with the risk of reducing soil quality.

Materials And Methods: In this study the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) evolution has been studied in a factorial lab experiment combining five substrates (a soil, two aged composts and their mixtures) treated with a co-application of three pesticides (azoxystrobin, chlorotoluron and epoxiconazole), with two extraction methods, and two incubation times (0 and 58 days). FAMEs extraction followed the microbial identification system (MIDI) and ester-linked method (EL).

Snow vole (Chionomys nivalis Martins) affects the redistribution of soil organic matter and hormone-like activity in the alpine ecosystem: ecological implications.

In alpine environments, colonies of snow vole (Chionomys nivalis Martins) cause strong pedoturbation, which may affect humification process and soil organic matter (SOM) cycling, with repercussions on the hormone-like activity of organics. We investigated the effect of snow vole pedoturbation on the chemical and spectroscopic features of soil organic fractions, and the potential hormone-like activity of humic and fulvic acids (HA, FA). The study site was located on the high-mountain environment of the Majella massif (central Italy).

Capsicum chinensis L. growth and nutraceutical properties are enhanced by biostimulants in a long-term period: chemical and metabolomic approaches.

Two biostimulants, one derived from alfalfa plants (AH) and the other obtained from red grape (RG), were chemically characterized using enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assays, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopies. Two doses (50 and 100 mL L(-1) for RG, and 25 and 50 mL L(-1) for AH) of biostimulants were applied to Capsicum chinensis L. plants cultivated in pots inside a tunnel.

High molecular size humic substances enhance phenylpropanoid metabolism in maize (Zea mays L.).

A high molecular weight humic fraction (>3,500 Da) was characterized chemically by DRIFT and 1H NMR spectroscopy, and was applied to Zea mays L. plants to evaluate its effect on phenylpropanoid metabolism. The activity and gene expression of phenylalanine (tyrosine) ammonia-lyase (PAL/TAL), and the concentrations of phenolics and their amino acid precursors phenylalanine and tyrosine were assayed.

Effect of a compost and its water-soluble fractions on key enzymes of nitrogen metabolism in maize seedlings.

The growing concern on long-term productivity of agroecosystems has emphasized the need to develop management strategies to maintain and protect soil resources, particularly soil organic matter (SOM). Among these, the composting process allows both recycling of the increasing amount of organic waste materials and restoration of the content of organic matter in soil. A sequential chemical fractionation into structurally unbound (SU), weakly bound (WB) and strongly bound (SB) compounds was applied to a bulk compost, and its soluble fractions were extracted in water, either after oxidation of compost suspension with an oxygen flux (TEA), or without oxidation but separated into hydrophilic (HiDOM) and hydrophobic (HoDOM) components.

Effect of low molecular size humic substances on nitrate uptake and expression of genes involved in nitrate transport in maize (Zea mays L.).

In this study, a detailed characterization of earthworm low molecular size humic substances (LMS) was performed and these substances were used to study their effect on the nitrate influx in roots, tissue nitrate content, and expression of maize genes putatively involved in nitrate uptake in maize (Zea mays L.). The results show that the humic fraction with low molecular size used in this study is endowed with the characteristic structural network described for most humic substances so far isolated and confirm the presence of IAA in this fraction.

Low-molecular-weight organic acids and hormone-like activity of dissolved organic matter in two forest soils in N Italy.

Concentrations of aliphatic acids, phenolic acid, and inorganic nutrients, as well as hormone-like activity, were determined in soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) from two forest sites in N Italy showing differing degrees of silver fir regeneration. In the site where silver fir recruitment was abundant, humification processes prevailed, and the soil DOM had a high content in aliphatic and phenolic acids. This enhanced the hormone-like activity in the soil, which could in turn promote growth of silver fir seedlings.

Hormone-like activities of humic substances in different forest ecosystems.

•  In order to understand the phytohormone-like activity of humic substances (HS) with respect to vegetation, different forest ecosystems were considered. For this study, 32 soil horizons from a large area of northern Italy typical for silver fir ( Abies alba ) were evaluated. •  The development of organic and humic matter in the five silver fir forest types was assessed by quantifying chemical and biochemical parameters.

Hormone-like activity of humic substances in Fagus sylvaticae forests.

• Soil A horizons from a large area typical for beech (Fagus sylvatica) in northern Italy were investigated to understand the phyto-hormone-like activity of humic substances (HS) with respect to the vegetation. These soils had developed under thermophilous (Cephalonthero-Fagion with Carici albae-Fagetum), mesophilous (Fagion sylvaticae with Dentario pentaphylli-Fagetum and Galio-odourati-Fagetum) or acidophilous (Luzulo-Fagion with Luzulo niveae-Fagetum) beech forests. • The development of organic and humic matter in the three forest types was assessed by quantifying chemical parameters.