title: Effect of commercial lignosulfonate-humate on Zea mays L. metabolism.
abstract: Lignosulfonate-humate a and lignosulfonate-humate b, derived by an industrial process from lignin, were studied chemically and biologically, and their effects on maize metabolism compared with the responses induced by humic substances obtained from leonardite. Lignosulfonate-humate a and lignosulfonate-humate b elicited hormonelike activity and leonardite displayed giberellin properties. To improve our understanding of their biological action, lignosulfonate-humate a, lignosulfonate-humate b and leonardite were supplied to maize plants and their effect was studied on growth, nitrogen metabolism and photosynthesis. All products increased root and leaf growth. Glutamine-synthetase, glutamate-synthase enzyme activities and protein content were all increased. The treatments also increased chlorophyll content, glucose, fructose and rubisco enzyme activity, suggesting a positive role of lignosulfonate-humate a, lignosulfonate-humate b and leonardite in the photosynthetic process. In addition, an increase in phenol content was observed. In light of these results, being environmentally friendly products, lignosulfonate-humate a and lignosulfonate-humate b could be used to increase crop yield.
authors: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Ertani
authors: Ornella
authors: O
authors: Francioso
authors: Vitaliano
authors: V
authors: Tugnoli
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Righi
authors: Serenella
authors: S
authors: Nardi
mesh_terms: D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D005970:Glutamate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D008031:Lignin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D058871:Organic Agriculture; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D006812:Humic Substances; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002734:Chlorophyll; C001545:lignosulfuric acid; D008031:Lignin; D005970:Glutamate Synthase; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase