Biochemical response of rainfed chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) to vermicompost-enriched biofertilizers and supplemental irrigation

Chicory, blue-flowered perennial plant, Native to Europe, is cultivated extensively in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany and to some extent in North America. Its leaves are eaten as a vegetable or in a salad, and the roots may be boiled and eaten. The plant is grown as a fodder or herbage crop for cattle. Supplemental irrigation, an impressive strategy, diminishes the detrimental effects of drought on the productivity of rainfed plants. A factorial experiment was performed at Urmia University during ۲۰۱۶-۲۰۱۷. The experiment was included three factors; irrigation [without irrigation (rainfed) and supplemental irrigation], growing stage (vegetative and flowering) and fertilizers (control, mycorrhizal fungi (M, Funneliformis mosseae), Thiobacillus thiooxidans bacteria (T), M+T, vermicompost (V; ۱۰ Mg ha-۱), M+V, T+V and M+T+V). By supplemental irrigation, the amount of hydrogen peroxide, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) were significantly reduced. Dual inoculation of plants resulted in a significant decrease of electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA). Also, in co-inoculation conditions, the amount of total phenolics content (TPC), soluble proteins, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase activity were significantly increased, which this increment was more noticeable with vermicompost application. Biological yield was increased by ۷۴.۷%, in dually-inoculated and irrigated plants. The rate of root colonization in mycorrhized plants was significantly increased, which probably had a major role in the above results. Accordingly, combined use of mycorrhiza, Thiobacillus and vermicompost, as well as supplemental irrigation can improve the yield of chicory forage in rainfed condition.

Biochemical response of rainfed chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) to vermicompost-enriched biofertilizers and supplemental irrigation Keywords:

Antioxidant , Enzymatic defense , Forage , Funneliformis mosseae , Thiobacillus thiooxidans , Vermicompost , Antioxidant , Enzymatic defense , Forage , Funneliformis mosseae , Thiobacillus thiooxidans , Vermicompost