Pilot scale production of nanoencapsulated plant growth regulator (BIOTECH Nano-Plant Growth Regulator) for the production of high value crops

Date

2017

Abstract

The pilot scale production of nano-plant growth regulators (HomoGroe) was explored in the study. The production of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Gibberellin-like substance (GA) and cytokinin (CK) by locally isolated plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) was evaluated and optimized. Parametric and optimization studies determined the optimum conditions for the production of IAA by PGPB1. Preliminary evaluation of the IAA production of PGPB1 showed that 511.78 ± 26.76 mg I AA equivalent can be produced for 24 hours per L of culture medium. Results also showed that sucrose and baker's yeast were the most favorable and cost-effective carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively for the bacterial production of IAA. Parametric studies revealed that L-tryptophan concentration, inoculation ratio, trace elements concentration, initial pH, and yeast extract concentration significantly affect the production of IAA. Numerical optimization using response surface methodology generated mathematical models that describe the interactions of the significant factors and predict corresponding IAA concentration based on given conditions. Spectrophotometric analyses revealed that significant amounts of GA (1605.47 ± 46.69 mg GA3 equivalent/L culture medium) can be produced by PGPB4. Radish cotyledon bioassay also showed that PGPB2, PGPB23, and B31 exhibited cytokinin-like bioactivity suggested that these PGPBs are potential sources of cytokinin. Phospholipids, which serve as wall materials in nanoencapsulation, were extracted from soy lecithin in a 10.67% yield. FT-IR analyses showed that phospholipids were successfully isolated and that phosphatidylcholine may be one of the major components of the phospholipid mixture. Plant growth regulators were encapsulated in liposomes using a thin-film hydration method. Encapsulation of IAA, GA and CK afforded a yield of 9.20 g, 1.0 g and 30.78 g per liter culture medium, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that the Nano-Plant Growth Regulators are less than 100 nm in particle size. A pilot line for the extraction of plant growth regulators was developed in collaboration with All Trade Marketing and Manufacturing (ATMM). In particular, a pilot line for IAA was designed as model for the extraction of plant growth regulators. The line was divided into three parts, namely: (1) bacterial inoculation and auxin production, (2) liquid-liquid extraction of auxin from the inoculation media, and (3) solvent evaporation. Efficacy trials on different high value crops and ornamentals showed that Nano-Plant Growth Regulators could serve as alternative to commercial and/or synthetic plant hormones. Treatment of tomato seedling with 30 ppm Nano-IAA resulted in 50% increase in root dry weight. Incorporation of 10 ppm Nano-GA in the tissue culture of banana enhanced its survival rate and plant height by 32%. Nano-IAA also enhanced the shoot and root emergence of coffee nodal cuttings by 16% and the survival rate by 50%. Treatment of cassava with 10 ppm Nano-IAA resulted in 14% increase in yield. Preliminary results showed that the cacao trees grown in very hot conditions, when treated with Nano-GA, can survive and produce cacao fruits. Efficacy trials on the marcotting of very-hard-to-root variety of gumamela showed that Nano-IAA enhanced the root emergence by 75%. A 161% increase in plant weight was observed in aster plants treated with 100 ppm Nano-GA. Economic analyses revealed that the total investment to establish the manufacturing facility and the working capital requirement to produce the product is around Php 29,563,854.60, with a corresponding return on investment (ROI) of 169.26%. In addition, eggplant applied with Nano-IAA brought positive increase in income amounting to Php 7,696.50 and Php 5,687.00 per hectare as compared to the yield of control crops and treated with commercially available auxin, respectively. Coffee seedlings treated with Nano-IAA showed 29.62% reduction in mortality relative to untreated coffee seedlings, which is equivalent to 2,962 saleable seedlings or an additional income of Php 14,781.50.

Language

English

Document Type

Article

Pages /Collation

153 leaves

En – AGROVOC descriptors

IAA; CYTOKININS; GIBBERELLIC ACID; BIOTECHNOLOGY; PHOSPHOLIPIDS; LIPOSOMES (ORGANELLES); ENCAPSULATION; ANALYTICAL METHODS

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