Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels
Vegetables can be treated with biofertilizers as an alternative to chemical fertilizers because of their low toxicity. We investigated the effects of foliar spraying of <i>Azotobacter</i> under different levels of nitrogen (100, 150 and 200 mg/L in nutrient solution) on the growth, nutri...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/3/406 |
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| author | Zahra Razmjooei Mohammad Etemadi Saeid Eshghi Asghar Ramezanian Faezeh Mirazimi Abarghuei Javad Alizargar |
| author_facet | Zahra Razmjooei Mohammad Etemadi Saeid Eshghi Asghar Ramezanian Faezeh Mirazimi Abarghuei Javad Alizargar |
| author_sort | Zahra Razmjooei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vegetables can be treated with biofertilizers as an alternative to chemical fertilizers because of their low toxicity. We investigated the effects of foliar spraying of <i>Azotobacter</i> under different levels of nitrogen (100, 150 and 200 mg/L in nutrient solution) on the growth, nutritional value, nitrate accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities of hydroponically grown lettuce. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with four replicates in a factorial combination. Plants treated with <i>Azotobacter</i> and 200 mg/L nitrogen had greater leaf area and photosynthetic pigments than plants treated with 200 mg/L nitrogen without spraying with <i>Azotobacter</i>. Increasing nitrogen levels increased leaf number, fresh and dry weights, leaf area and nitrate accumulation in lettuce plants. Peroxidase (POD) activity increased by 95.4% at a nitrogen level of 200 mg/L compared to a nitrogen level of 100 mg/L. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity and leaf phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) concentrations were the highest in plants treated with a nitrogen source of 100 mg/L without foliar application of <i>Azotobacter</i>. As nitrogen levels increased in all treatments, nitrate reductase (NR) activity decreased and reached a minimum at the 200 mg/L nitrogen level. In general, foliar application of <i>Azotobacter</i> sp. can be used to promote plant growth and reduce nitrate accumulation in lettuce. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:18:20Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:18:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-35f9c281c3ea4359a15012b62c98566a2023-11-23T17:31:28ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-02-0111340610.3390/plants11030406Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen LevelsZahra Razmjooei0Mohammad Etemadi1Saeid Eshghi2Asghar Ramezanian3Faezeh Mirazimi Abarghuei4Javad Alizargar5Department of Horticultural Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71441-65186, IranDepartment of Horticultural Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71441-65186, IranDepartment of Horticultural Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71441-65186, IranDepartment of Horticultural Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71441-65186, IranDepartment of Horticultural Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71441-65186, IranResearch Center for Healthcare Industry Innovation, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, TaiwanVegetables can be treated with biofertilizers as an alternative to chemical fertilizers because of their low toxicity. We investigated the effects of foliar spraying of <i>Azotobacter</i> under different levels of nitrogen (100, 150 and 200 mg/L in nutrient solution) on the growth, nutritional value, nitrate accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities of hydroponically grown lettuce. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with four replicates in a factorial combination. Plants treated with <i>Azotobacter</i> and 200 mg/L nitrogen had greater leaf area and photosynthetic pigments than plants treated with 200 mg/L nitrogen without spraying with <i>Azotobacter</i>. Increasing nitrogen levels increased leaf number, fresh and dry weights, leaf area and nitrate accumulation in lettuce plants. Peroxidase (POD) activity increased by 95.4% at a nitrogen level of 200 mg/L compared to a nitrogen level of 100 mg/L. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity and leaf phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) concentrations were the highest in plants treated with a nitrogen source of 100 mg/L without foliar application of <i>Azotobacter</i>. As nitrogen levels increased in all treatments, nitrate reductase (NR) activity decreased and reached a minimum at the 200 mg/L nitrogen level. In general, foliar application of <i>Azotobacter</i> sp. can be used to promote plant growth and reduce nitrate accumulation in lettuce.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/3/406<i>Azotobacter</i>biostimulantsnitrate accumulationnitrogen supplementsproline content |
| spellingShingle | Zahra Razmjooei Mohammad Etemadi Saeid Eshghi Asghar Ramezanian Faezeh Mirazimi Abarghuei Javad Alizargar Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels Plants <i>Azotobacter</i> biostimulants nitrate accumulation nitrogen supplements proline content |
| title | Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels |
| title_full | Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels |
| title_fullStr | Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels |
| title_short | Potential Role of Foliar Application of <i>Azotobacter</i> on Growth, Nutritional Value and Quality of Lettuce under Different Nitrogen Levels |
| title_sort | potential role of foliar application of i azotobacter i on growth nutritional value and quality of lettuce under different nitrogen levels |
| topic | <i>Azotobacter</i> biostimulants nitrate accumulation nitrogen supplements proline content |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/3/406 |
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