Effect of plant extracts on yield signalling molecules and gene expression in tomato and rice crops

Abstract

Biostimulants, have recently been implemented in agriculture to improve food production through increase in yield. Plant biostimulants are a sub-category of biostimulants which majorly help in improvement of yield. Initial screening of Neem, Moringa and Asthma weed were performed on Rice and Tomato. Further analysis of Moringa oleifera (M oleifera) leaf decoction (M oleifera hot water extract-MWE) and Euphorbia hirta methanol extract (EHM) was performed to examined the potential to increase the yield of BPT 5204 rice variety and NS 538 tomato variety. newlineWe analyzed the effect of different concentrations of MWE on rice yield with different modes of treatment such as seed soaking, root treatment, and foliar spray. Rice plants grown from rice seeds soaked in 100 g/L MWE produced 6.6 tons/ha yield compared to root soaking (6 tons/ha) and foliar spray (6.5 tons/ha). Further testing of 100g/L MWE showed an increase in grain weight per panicle and average weight of grain per plant. Leaves from these plants were analyzed to study the effect of MWE treatment on phenylalanine lyase and hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitric oxide levels and genes involved in rice and tomato yield. The leaves of plants grown from rice seeds soaked in 100 g/L MWE showed increased H202 and S-Adenosyl-l¬methionine synthetase gene levels compared to control plants. newline newline