Transcriptional characterization of the biostimulant effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model.
Domenica Khiabet Brazales-Cevallos, Yordan J. Romero-Contreras, Miguel Ángel Vences‐Guzmán, Martha Torres, Norma Yaniri Aviles-Baltazar, Christian Sohlenkamp, Mario Serrano
Abstract
Plant food production is affected by multiple abiotic and biotic stresses. To overcome these limiting factors, synthetic agrochemicals are widely used. However, more stringent worldwide regulatory policies and the public demand to reduce their application have led to the search for new ecofriendly alternatives such as biostimulants. Their commercial use is still limited, mostly due to the lack of knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for their effects on plant metabolism. The horseradish Moringa oleifera has been described as a source of metabolites with biostimulant potential in agriculture. In particular, its leaf extracts (MLE) have been used to improve food production by enhancing plant growth and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. Nevertheless, the molecular basis of changes induced by the application of MLE, in particular to the plant transcriptome, are poorly understood. In this work, using Arabidopsis thaliana as model, we determined that MLEA induced tolerance to salinity and protection against the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea. Additionally, we characterized the transcriptional changes of phytohormone-induced genes that were caused by MLE. Our work provides novel and valuable information that can help researchers to characterize the biostimulant effects induced by the miracle plant Moringa oleifera.