Towards Zinc Biofortification in Chickpea: Performance of Chickpea Cultivars in Response to Soil Zinc Application

Impact of zinc and plant growth-promoting bacteria on soil health as well as aboveground biomass of desi and kabuli chickpea under arid conditions

BACKGROUND

Zinc (Zn) deficiency and low soil fertility are the major factors responsible for low yield in chickpea. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zn application and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) (endophyte Enterobacter sp. MN17) on soil health and aboveground biomass of desi and kabuli chickpea under natural field conditions. Zn was applied as seed priming (0.001 mol L^-1 ) and soil application (10 kg Zn ha^-1 ) with and without PGPB. To determine the impacts of Zn and PGPB on soil biological health, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil extracellular enzyme activities were analyzed at two growth stages: vegetative (90 days after sowing) and maturity (163 days after sowing).

RESULTS

The highest aboveground biomass (5.1 t ha^-1 ) was recorded with Zn seed priming + PGPB in kabuli chickpea and in desi chickpea (4.8 t ha^-1 ) with Zn seed priming only. The application of Zn significantly increased soil MBC, which was higher in kabuli (795 and 731 μg C g^-1 ) compared to desi chickpea (655 and 533 μg C g^-1 ) at both vegetative and reproductive growth stages, respectively. The highest extracellular soil enzyme activities, - β-glucosidase (4758 nmol g^-1  h^-1 ), acid phosphatase (5508 nmol g^-1  h^-1 ), chitinase (5997 nmol g^-1  h^-1 ) and leucine aminopeptidase (993 nmol g^-1  h^-1 ) - were recorded with Zn seed priming. Of the chickpea types, kabuli chickpea had higher soil extracellular enzyme activities in the rhizosphere than desi chickpea.

CONCLUSION

Zn seed priming along with PGPB application may improve soil health and chickpea biomass in marginal soils. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of chickpea genotypes of Pakistani origin for genetic diversity and zinc grain biofortification

BACKGROUND

Intake of food low in essential minerals, like zinc (Zn), is one of the major reasons of malnutrition. Development of genotypes with grains enriched in essential minerals may help to solve the issue of malnutrition. In this study, 16 chickpea genotypes (eight each of desi and kabuli types) of Pakistani origin were evaluated for genetic diversity and grain Zn biofortification potential with and without Zn fertilization.

RESULTS

A wide variation was noted for agronomic, physiological, agro-physiological, utilization, and apparent recovery efficiencies of Zn in the chickpea genotypes tested. Genotypes also differed for grain Zn concentration (37.5-48.6 mg kg^-1 ), bioavailable Zn (3.72-4.42 mg day^-1 ), and grain yield. The highest grain Zn concentration and bioavailable Zn were noted in genotypes NIAB-CH-2016 (47.1 mg kg^-1 and 4.30 mg day^-1 respectively) and Noor-2013 (48.6 mg kg^-1 and 4.38 mg day^-1 respectively) among the desi and kabuli types respectively. The same genotypes were the highest yielders. Cluster analysis showed that all (eight) kabuli genotypes grouped together, whereas most (six) of the desi genotypes clustered in a separate group. There was low to moderate genetic diversity (0.149 for desi and 0.104 for kabuli types) and a low level of genetic differentiation between the two chickpea types (0.098).

CONCLUSION

Two populations of chickpea had low to moderate genetic diversity, with consistent gene flow. This genetic diversity in both chickpea types allows the breeding gains for improving the grain yield and grain Zn biofortification potential of chickpea genotypes. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

New environmentally friendly bio-based micronutrient fertilizer by biosorption: From laboratory studies to the field

This paper reports the studies on the elaboration of new environmentally friendly fertilizer obtained by valorization of post-extraction biomass residues of alfalfa (Medicago) and goldenrod (Solidago), after extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide, via biosorption process. The performance and controlled release properties of fertilizer were assessed in laboratory under in vitro and in vivo conditions, as well as on the field. In vitro tests show high bioavailability of micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn) administered on the biological carrier - between 60 and 80%, in relation to 100% availability of sulphate microelements. This phenomenon is desirable and indicates slowed release pattern of micronutrients. Germination tests demonstrated the phytotoxicity effect of sulphates, while yield increase and biofortification effect by the use of new fertilizers was achieved. Field trials showed, that with respect to conventional micronutrient fertilizers (mineral salts), fertilizers obtained via biosorption resulted in increase of the content of Cu, Mn and Zn by 2.6, 88.6 and 50.6% in plant biomass, respectively. This is important from the point of view of plant and animal nutrition. In addition, the uptake of fertilizer components was calculated, indicating their degree of use. Calculations of micronutrient uptake in field trials shows a higher uptake of fertilizing microelements of products obtained via biosorption by 4.04% (Zn), 1.47% (Cu) and 20.63% (Mn) in relation to sulphates.

Cicer arietinum extract ameliorate γ-irradiation disorders via modulation of oxidative/antioxidative pathway

Ionized radiations trigger thoughtful adverse hazards through multiple organ dysfunctions. Recently, antioxidant-based biodrugs are used to prevent and treat ionizing radiation hazards. The present study aimed to investigate the prospective ameliorative effect of Cicer arietinum extract (CAE) against γ-irradiation and the pathway of this amelioration in male albino rats. Twenty four rats were allocated into four groups; (i) control group, (ii) CAE group in which rats treated with a dosage of 500 mg CAE/kg b.wt, (iii) γ-irradiated group in which rats exposed to 6Gy γ-irradiation, (iv) γ-irradiated+CAE group; rats of this group treated with CAE 1 h post exposure. All rats treated for 21 days. Liver, kidney and femoral bone were rapidly excised and homogenized for the biochemical analysis. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP) analyses exhibit that γ-irradiation elicits significant change in the essential trace elements content in liver, kidney, and bone. Further, significant increases in TBARS and H₂O₂ contents accompanied by significant decreases in GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx activities in liver, kidney and bone tissues were recorded in the γ-irradiated rats compared to control group. Additionally, marked reduction in the thickness of cortical bone was recorded in rats exposed to γ-irradiation. Conversely, CAE (500 mg/kg b.wt, p.o) administration for 21 days to γ-irradiated rats effectively reverses most of the altered parameters of the γ-irradiated rats. In conclusion, the present findings suggested that CAE is a potential agent that can be used against radiation hazards. This effect may be owing to its antioxidant mechanism, as CAE has an inhibitory effect against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide radical (O₂^·-) beside its ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). This finding recommended that CAE can be utilized clinically to mitigate ionized radiation-induced hazard effects.