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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIOSTISYM (Investigation of plant biostimulating properties of feather protein hydrolyzate and the effects on symbiotic microorganisms)

Teaser

Summary

One of the greatest challenges worldwide is the reduction of the negative environmental impact of modern agriculture. One often overlooked aspect here is the negative impact of intensive chemical inputs on the key ecophysiological features of terrestrial plants, symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi and other microorganisms. The use of environmentally friendly products such as plant biostimulants may hold the key to new sustainable crop production systems. Aim of the BIOSTISYM project was the development of a new biostimulant based on feather protein hydrolyzate which can enhance plant growth and act in synergy with symbiotic microbes or promote their growth.
Huge quantities of feathers from poultry processing are usually landfilled or burnt causing environmental pollution. Such processing leaves valuable feather compounds untapped. The re-use of raw materials that are disposed of as waste is one of the key principles of the Circular Economy strategy of the EC. Also, EC Regulation No. 1069/2009 recommends that animal by-products are safely used for various applications in a sustainable manner, such as converting feathers into amino acids and peptides. Applied to plants, these compounds may enhance plant metabolic processes and improve crop growth performance. The changes in plant metabolism may affect also the interaction of the plant with symbiotic microorganisms. These microorganisms can considerably influence the growth and health of host plants that benefit from improved nutrient uptake and higher resistance to stresses. Therefore, the assessment of possible effects of the novel biostimulant on the interaction of the plant with the symbiotic microorganisms is essential to assure efficient sustainable crop management. BIOSTISYM project focused on winter wheat, as high doses of agrochemicals are commonly applied during the cultivation of this important crop. The use of biostimulants could partially reduce the need for the chemicals while maintaining a healthy soil ecosystem.
The main objective was the characterization of interactions between symbiotic microbes and plant biostimulant by (1) Determination of biostimulating activity; (2) Determination of synergistic effects of the biostimulant and symbiotic microbes on plant growth promotion; (3) Determination of effects of plant biostimulant on the symbiotic microbes. Simultaneously, the researcher involved in the MSCA fellowship was supposed to acquire new knowledge in the field of symbiotic associations to reach professional maturity in the field of plant-microbe interactions.

Work performed

First, the efficient biostimulant concentration was determined on wheat seedlings. Subsequently, screening of biostimulating activities of the feather protein hydrolyzate on young plants was carried out in a greenhouse pot experiment. A field trial was set up to verify the effects of the new biostimulant in agricultural practice. The effects of biostimulant treatments on the interaction of the wheat plants with either artificially inoculated mycorrhizal fungi or with native root-inhabiting fungi were determined.
In the pot experiment, there were the trends in the increase of wheat growth parameters by feather protein hydrolyzate, and a significant increase of dry weight of shoot biomass under standard phosphorus supply. In the field experiment, two weeks after biostimulant treatment, feather protein hydrolyzate applied to plants increased the leaf chlorophyll content and plant height. This resulted in the significant increase of grain yield of 4.9% by feather protein hydrolyzate in comparison with the control plants.
In the pot experiment, the trend in the increase of the root mycorrhizal colonization and the abundance of fungal structures such as vesicles or spores by feather protein hydrolyzate was observed, especially under low phosphorus supply. These results together with stimulation of wheat growth parameters may indicate a synergistic effect of artificial inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biostimulant treatment in plant growth promotion. A similar synergistic effect was observed for the native mycorrhizal fungi under field conditions. In the plants treated with the feather protein hydrolyzate, the crop growth parameters and yield were increased simultaneously with a slight increase of mycorrhizal colonization and a significant increase in abundance of vesicles or spores in the roots.
The molecular analyses of fungal population diversity revealed that the fungal community composition significantly changes over the crop growth cycle, but it is only slightly affected by the biostimulant treatments. The differences in the fungal population diversity among the treatments were more pronounced 14 days after the biostimulant application in comparison with the later growth stage. In addition, the trends in a higher abundance of Glomerales, an order of symbiotic fungi, in the plants treated with protein hydrolyzates were recorded. Based on the results, the possible influence of native root-associated fungal communities by the biostimulants, together with the promotion of crop growth parameters at a specific developmental stage, may contribute to the increase of crop yield.
The project results might be exploited by the poultry producers, that need to dispose of large quantities of feathers, and the fertilizer producers that may exploit the novel biostimulant with proven no harmful effects on symbiotic microorganisms, after appropriate product standardization, either alone or as an additive to the fertilizers.
During the MSCA fellowship, the researcher participated in the scientific training activities, transfer of knowledge in the biostimulant development from the industry, and in the activities of project management and administration. The BIOSTISYM project aimed to increase public awareness on sustainable agriculture and the influence of plant interactions with beneficial microorganisms by agro-technical interventions. Therefore, lectures and stages for high school students were organized, as well as the contributions to the popularizing events of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The results of the project were presented at three international conferences and two scientific papers will be published in peer-reviewed journals. The project was also presented in the exhibition premises of the PrÅ¯honice Castle, UNESCO heritage site.

Final results

The project significantly contributed to the state of the art. The effects of feather protein hydrolyzate on the interaction of plant with symbiotic microorganisms and their community composition, an outcome of the project, has not been previously studied, specifically, the effects of the protein hydrolyzate-based biostimulants on the interactions of plants with both artificially inoculated mycorrhizal fungi and native mycorrhizal fungi presented in the field soil.
In addition, feather protein hydrolyzate, thanks to its biostimulating effects on wheat and its added value to not affect negatively symbiotic microbes, appears to be a promising supplement to the cultivation technology. It could complement or partially replace traditional fertilizers and thereby contribute to reducing environmental pollution. This aspect fulfills the important societal needs such as decrease of chemical residues in food crops. The novel biostimulant is suitable to promote crop growth in both the organic cultivation systems and in conventional cultivation systems.