Russian scientists have found a method that can significantly increase the germination and productivity of agricultural plants. They noted that applying a special chemical compound based on natural sugars to soybean seeds increased germination by 50% and yield by 30%. At the same time, it was possible to prevent the accumulation of potentially toxic substances in the plant. The study results were published in the journal Plant Growth Regulation.
With the world population growing, the need to increase food production is becoming increasingly urgent. As arable land becomes increasingly scarce, farmers are looking for ways to increase germination and yield by using various chemicals, such as pesticides and fungicides. However, as experts from the Siberian Federal University emphasize, most of them are synthetic substances that can be dangerous to the health of humans and animals.
To reduce the negative impact on the biosphere, scientists from the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and the Siberian Federal University have developed nanocomposite particles based on natural polysaccharides such as starch and carrageenan, as well as selenium and manganese. According to Professor Konstantin Krutovsky, this approach not only improves seed germination, but also increases the resistance of soybeans to bacterial infections. The nanoparticles attract sugar-consuming bacteria, and the presence of metals makes them toxic to microorganisms. The study was conducted on soybeans to test the effectiveness of the new drug against the bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum, which causes soft rot in various plants.
Source: Ferra
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