Effect of Cow Urine-Based Bioformulations on Growth and Physiological Responses in Mungbean Under Soil Moisture Stress Conditions

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of cow urine-based bioformulations on the morphological, physiological growth response and expression of stress responsive genes under drought stress in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] plants. An initial in vitro evaluation and three separate pot experiments were carried out by treating mungbean with varying concentrations of bioformulations under different soil moisture conditions (well watered and water stressed). The application of bioformulations (BR and SH) led to an increase in number of nodules (22.41 in R3 stage under stress; 12.17 in R5 stage under stress recovery) and total plant dry weight (1.12 g in R3 stage under stress; 1.22 g in R5 stage under stress recovery) at different growth stages and soil moisture conditions. Least decrease or no change in photochemical efficiency of PS-II (Fv/Fm) in the bioformulations-treated plants under stress-imposed conditions indicated that bioformulations used in this experiment have potential role in mitigating soil moisture stress in crops like mungbean. The enhanced expression of genes of membrane-integrated protein like aquaporins (Nodulin 26-like Intrinsic Proteins—NIP) in the treated plants under low soil moisture conditions further accentuated the efficacy of these bioformulations to alleviate the drought stress in crops.