Transcriptome Analysis of Gelatin Seed Treatment as a Biostimulant of Cucumber Plant Growth

Abstract

The beneficial effects of gelatin capsule seed treatment on enhanced plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stress have been reported in a number of crops, but the molecular mechanisms underlying such effects are poorly understood. Using mRNA sequencing based approach, transcriptomes of one- and two-week-old cucumber plants from gelatin capsule treated and nontreated seeds were characterized. The gelatin treated plants had greater total leaf area, fresh weight, frozen weight, and nitrogen content. Pairwise comparisons of the RNA-seq data identified 620 differentially expressed genes between treated and control two-week-old plants, consistent with the timing when the growth related measurements also showed the largest differences. Using weighted gene coexpression network analysis, significant coexpression gene network module of 208 of the 620 differentially expressed genes was identified, which included 16 hub genes in the blue module, a NAC transcription factor, a MYB transcription factor, an amino acid transporter, an ammonium transporter, a xenobiotic detoxifier-glutathione S-transferase, and others. Based on the putative functions of these genes, the identification of the significant WGCNA module and the hub genes provided important insights into the molecular mechanisms of gelatin seed treatment as a biostimulant to enhance plant growth.

Investigation of Soy Protein–based Biostimulant Seed Coating for Broccoli Seedling and Plant Growth Enhancement

“…In the same study, increased gene expression of the three tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, nitrate reductase, and asparagine synthetase was confirmed by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction in the roots following application of alfalfa hydrolysate. Wilson et al (2015) suggested that gelatin, an animal protein, increased expression of amino acid and N transporter genes, which may be responsible for enhanced N uptake by roots.…”

Biostimulant Action of Protein Hydrolysates: Unraveling Their Effects on Plant Physiology and Microbiome

“…Gelatin, an animal-derived protein, applied as capsules placed near the seeds, has been shown to act as a biostimulant on greenhouse-grown cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.). Application of these gelatin capsules increased fresh and dry weight biomass, leaf area and nitrogen content of 2-week old plants compared with seeds sown without gelatin capsules ( Wilson et al, 2015 ). Changes in plant biomass and nitrogen in response to the gelatin capsules were correlated with an up-regulation of both amino acids and N transporter genes and the xenobiotic detoxification system.…”

Fish By-Product Use as Biostimulants: An Overview of the Current State of the Art, Including Relevant Legislation and Regulations within the EU and USA

“…The EC and USDA have now provided a framework for the regulation and use of biostimulants in Europe and the US respectively. In line with the (EU) 2019/1009 regulation and the onus that it placed on manufacturers to justify a biostimulant claim, EBIC has proposed some general guiding principles to follow when justifying plant biostimulant claims [119].…”

“…The study also showed that APR ® might preventively prepare plants to oxidative stresses by the regulation of ROS signaling genes, in this study SOD1A gene was clearly regulated in the presence of stress and APR. In another study by Wilson et al (2015), gelatin capsules were applied in soil near cucumber seeds and caused the increase in fresh and dry weight biomass, leaf area and nitrogen content of 2-week old plants. These improvements were credited to an upregulation of both amino acids and N transporter genes and the xenobiotic detoxification system [119].…”