Moringa leaf extract enhances the growth and yield characteristics of buckwheat genotypes by modulating the biochemical and physiological activities
Heer Baloch1, Irfan Ali Sabir2, Saadullah Khan Leghari1, Muhammad Sohail Saddiq3*, Pravej Alam4, Shahbaz Khan5*, Esha Mehik Fatima6, Mateen Sajid7, Muhammad Hammad Raza8, Muhammad Arif Hussain1, Muhammad Ayoub1, Rashid Iqbal9
1Department of Botany, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
2College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
3Department of Agronomy, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
4Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al- Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
5Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
6Department of Entomology, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
7Department of Horticulture, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
8Department of Agri. Extension and Education, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
9Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Abstract
Moringa leaf extract (MLE) as a biostimulant has demonstrated success in boosting the productivity of several agronomic crops, but its impact on Buckwheat crops remains unexplored. Buckwheat, recognized as an essential nutritional and functional food crop, often exhibits lower yields compared to major cereal crops grown in similar environments. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the impact of different concentrations (1%, 2%, and 3%) of MLE on the agricultural performance of common buckwheat (CB) and tartary buckwheat (TB). A pot experiment was carried out according to completely randomized design with factorial arrangements having three replications. Results demonstrated significant improvements in growth parameters (branches, leaves, nodes, and internodes) for MLE-treated plants compared to the control group. Foliar treatment MLE 2% also increased chlorophyll content, improved membrane stability index (MSI) and relative water content (RWC), and enhanced biochemical composition (phenolic compounds, free amino acids, leaf proline, and soluble sugars) in both buckwheat genotypes followed by MLE 3% and MLE 1%. TB produced significantly higher grain yield (0.74 g) as compared to CB (0.43 g). The findings showed that a foliar treatment of MLE 2% led to increased grain yield in both TB (0.97 g) and CB (0.55 g) as compared to control group plants (0.37g TB and 0.22 g CB) respectively. This increase was associated with elevated activities of photosynthetic pigments, phenolic content, RWC, free amino acids, soluble sugars, and catalase in both buckwheat genotypes. In conclusion, MLE application at 2% significantly boosted the agriculture performance of buckwheat, and this study unlocked new insights into optimizing the productivity of the vital food crop.
