Improving growth and productivity of faba bean (Vicia faba L .) using chitosan, tryptophan, and potassium silicate anti-transpirants under different irrigation regimes

Sarah E E Fouda; Fathy M A El-Saadony; Ahmed M Saad; Samy M Sayed; Mohamed El-Sharnouby; Amira M El-Tahan; Mohamed T El-Saadony

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.007

Improving growth and productivity of faba bean (Vicia faba L .) using chitosan, tryptophan, and potassium silicate anti-transpirants under different irrigation regimes

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 Feb;29(2):955-962. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.007. Epub 2021 Oct 12.

Authors

Sarah E E Fouda¹, Fathy M A El-Saadony², Ahmed M Saad³, Samy M Sayed⁴, Mohamed El-Sharnouby⁵, Amira M El-Tahan⁶, Mohamed T El-Saadony⁷

Affiliations

¹ Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, 44511 Zagazig, Egypt.
² Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, 44511 Zagazig, Egypt.
³ Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Science and Technology, University College-Ranyah, Taif University, B.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Plant Production Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, SRTA-City, Borg El Arab, Alexandria, Egypt.
⁷ Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, 44511 Zagazig, Egypt.

Abstract

This work aims to study the effect of foliar spraying of three anti-transpirants i.e., A-₁: tryptophan (Tri), A₂: potassium silicate (KS), A₃: chitosan (Chi) as well as A₀: control (Tap water) under three irrigation regimes, I₁: 2400, I₂: 3600, and I₃: 4800 m³ha^-1 on the quality and production of faba bean crop and its nutrient contents. The study was carried out during two successive winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. Drought stress affected the average performance of all studied traits as it reduced seed yield and traits, as a result of the decrease in chlorophyll related to photosynthesis, protein, carbohydrates, total phenols, amino acids, macronutrients (N, P, and K), micronutrient contents (Fe, Mn, and Zn) and their absorption. The single foliar spraying of faba bean with tryptophan 75 ppm, potassium silicate at 100 ppm, or chitosan at 750 ppm significantly increased all studied traits and reduced the drought stress compared to control under different irrigation systems. We recommended using a foliar spray of chitosan (750 ppm) on faba bean plants under an irrigation level of 4800 m³ led to an improvement in the physiological properties of the plant, i.e., plant height, the number of branches/plants, and the number of plants, pods plant^-1, the number of seed pods^-1, the weight of 100 seeds and seed yield ha^-1 increased with relative increase about 42.29, 89.47, 28.85, 75.91, 24.43, and 306.48% compared to control. The quality properties also improved, as the total chlorophyll, protein, carbohydrates, total phenols, and amino acids were higher than the control with a relative increase of 63.83, 29.58, 27.72, 37.54, and 64.19%. Additionally, an increase in the contents and uptake of macronutrients (N, P, and K), and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn) and their absorption. The increase was estimated with 29.41, 75.00, 16.56, 431.17, 630.48, 72.68%, 22.37, 35.69, 42.33, 397.63, 452.58, and 485.94% about the control. This was followed by potassium silicate (100 ppm), then tryptophan (75 ppm) compared to the control, which recorded the minimum values in plant traits.

Keywords: Anti-transpiration; Chitosan; Faba bean; Potassium silicate; Tryptophan; Water regime; Yield quality.