The Assessment of an Effect of Natural Origin Products on the Initial Growth and Development of Maize under Drought Stress and the Occurrence of Selected Pathogens

Joanna Horoszkiewicz (), Ewa Jajor, Jakub Danielewicz, Marek Korbas, Lech Schimmelpfennig, Marzena Mikos-Szymańska (), Marta Klimczyk and Jan Bocianowski
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Joanna Horoszkiewicz: Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
Ewa Jajor: Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
Jakub Danielewicz: Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
Marek Korbas: Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland
Lech Schimmelpfennig: Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe “Puławy” S.A., Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 13, 24-110 Puławy, Poland
Marzena Mikos-Szymańska: Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe “Puławy” S.A., Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 13, 24-110 Puławy, Poland
Marta Klimczyk: Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe “Puławy” S.A., Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 13, 24-110 Puławy, Poland
Jan Bocianowski: Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Poland, like other countries in the world, increasingly experiences the ongoing climate change that is a critical yield-limiting factor. The use of biostimulants in agriculture has shown tremendous potential in combating climate change-induced stresses such as drought, temperature stress, etc. They could be a promising tool in the current crop production scenario. Biostimulants are organic compounds, microbes, or amalgamation of both that could regulate plant growth behavior through molecular alteration and physiological, biochemical, and anatomical modulations. They can promote plant growth under various environmental stresses because they have a positive effect, in particular, on plant growth and resistance. There are many products of this type available on the market, including those of natural origin, which are part of the Integrated Pest Management. The ecotoxicity of chemical plant protection products, the negative effects of their use, and the change in regulations make it recommended to use low-risk chemicals and non-chemical methods, that involve the least risk to health and the environment, and at the same time ensure effective and efficient protection of crops. Natural origin biocomponents obtained by the supercritical CO 2 extraction of plant material or by fermentation process in bioreactors were tested. Common maize ( Zea mays L.) was selected as a test plant for growth tests at climate chambers. Results showed that the only supernatant (fermentation broth) obtained with the Paenibacillus bacteria (S2) had a positive effect on the germination index (GI > 100%) of maize seeds, compared to the obtained plant seed extracts from the crop of the legume family ( Fabaceae ) (E3) and from the crop of the smartweed family ( Polygonaceae ) (E9) (GI < 100%). The extracts E3, S1 (supernatant obtained with the use of bacteria from the genus Enterobacter ) and S2 used as a single product and in combination with UAN+S, under optimal conditions of the experiment, had a positive effect on the maize root weight compared to the untreated, while under drought stress, a decrease in the root weight was observed. Moreover, on the basis of the conducted research, differences in the mycelial growth of selected fungi were found. The applied biocomponent S2 of microbial origin extract (supernatant 2) showed a mycelial growth-limiting effect on all tested Fusarium fungi isolated from the corn cobs.

Keywords: germination; root parameters; antifungal activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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