Application of moringa leaf extract improves growth and yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Indian Spinach (Basella alba)

Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) leaf extract is a natural plant growth stimulant that is well-known for its ability to improve plant growth and development. A field study was conducted to evaluate the influence of MLE (Moringa Leaf Extract) on the growth, yield and nutritional improvement in two vegetable crops [Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Indian Spinach (Basella alba)]. The extract was applied at two weeks interval with different frequencies. The crops were fertilized with chemical fertilizers and MLE application was done as per treatment @ 25 ml/plant. For each of the crops, this bio-stimulant had a significant boosting effect on growth, yield and nutrient uptake whereas the maximum frequency in the application i.e. T4 (foliar application of MLE at 2 weeks after transplanting and application at every 2 weeks thereafter) showed the highest influence. Indian Spinach responded proportionally more to foliar-applied MLE in terms of plant growth and nutrient uptake compared to tomato. The effect of MLE on the yield parameters was more pronounced in tomato that showed a 25% (averaged across all the growth parameters) increase over control, but Indian Spinach showed ~20% increase in yield parameters compared to control. Therefore, applying MLE to the foliage may assist in increasing the yield by improving plant growth across the different vegetable species (e.g., Tomato and Indian Spinach).

Use of phytoremediation for pollution removal of hexavalent chromium-contaminated acid agricultural soils

<p>Chromium is a common heavy metal pollutant found in industrial wastewaters which may pollute agricultural soils through groundwater and watering. Phytoremediation is an economical and highly applicable method for removal of pollutants from agricultural soils. This research was carried out for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) contamination from the soil with the phytoremediation method. For this purpose, only 30 mg kg-1 hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI) as Chromium CrO3, only 10 mL bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM1710 and chromium plus bacteria applied to the pots and Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) grown in the pots. At the end of experiment the results showed that side branching, leaf width, plant dry weights were the highest agro-morphological traits when bacteria were applied to chromium polluted soil. Some macro and micro nutrient elements which are essential for plant nutrition were analyzed (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn). Among them, N, P, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn were found to be statistically significant at the level of 5%. The Cr content of Malabar spinach in control soil was 0.31mgkg-1, but it was 2.33mgkg-1 when the soil was contaminated with Cr at the end of experiment. Moreover, when bacteria were additionally applied the Cr content increased to 4.02 mgkg-1 of Malabar spinach. Chromium pollution antagonistically affected both some nutrient element (P, K, Ca; Mg) and some heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn) in the soil. This study shows that phytoremediation can be used to remove the soil pollution caused by containing high hexavalent chromium. For this reason, the nitrogen fixing bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus and the hyperaccumulator Malabar spinach plant can be used. It is the first study where Malabar spinach was used a hyperaccumulator plant for chromium pollution in the soils.</p>

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Flavonoids from Basella alba L.

Basella alba is a perennial plant of the Basellaceae and is known by various common names including Malabar spinach. Various parts of the plant are used for treatment of the diseases as well as for different healing activities of human beings as well as animals across the globe especially in India and China. There are several phytochemical present in plants, viz. flavonoids,tannins phytosterols, alkaloids and triterpenes, etc. Flavonoids are an unusually large group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds ubiquitously distributed in plant kingdom.Basella alba L. used as medicinal herbs for rubefacient and catarrhal infections. In the present study, focus has been made to identify the flavonoid in different samples of Basella alba L.by TLC and IR. Further, the isolation of the same compound was confirmed by GC- MS analysis.Total amount of flavonoids were found in Basella alba (0.45 mg/gdw in stem and 0.36 mg/gdw in seeds ). Forty nine compounds found in GC-MS analysis .1–Methyl-4 – isopropylcyclohexyl 2- hydroperfluoro butanoate (Area of % 24.50) was found in highest amount.