A DIGE proteomic analysis of wheat flag leaf treated with TERRA-SORB® foliar, a free amino acid high content biostimulant

DOI: 10.5584/jiomics.v6i1.188

Abstract

The flag leaf is the most important source of carbohydrate during wheat kernel filling. Around a 75% of all sugars stored in the kernel come from carbon fixed by this leaf. Terra-Sorb® foliar is an L-α-amino acid-based product from enzymatic hydrolysis for foliar application with a high ratio of free to total amino acids. Previous agronomical studies carried out on grassy, horticultural and tree crops have shown that the application of Terra-Sorb® increases photosynthetic plant activity and chlorophyll content, promotes rapid recovery from stress and improves fruit set.

In this work, we have undertaken a proteomic approach to explore molecular mechanisms potentially involved in the stimulating effect of Terra-Sorb® Foliar on wheat yield when applied in commercial fields. Wheat plants at the flag leaf stage were treated, and a DIGE approach was used to compare the proteomes of treated vs. control plants in four biological replicates.

Thirty-seven protein spots were found to change in abundance (ANOVA p