Abstract
ABSTRACTFlavonoids produced by legume roots are signal molecules acting as nod gene inducers for the symbiotic rhizobium partner. Nevertheless, the changes of flavonoids in root exudates in intercropping system are still unknown. Based on pot experiment of faba bean and wheat intercropping, here we showed that faba bean and wheat intercropping increased the nodules number and dry weight, dry weight per nodule of faba bean compared with those found in monocropping, and the increase of faba bean nodulation was likely caused by the enhancement with flavonol, isoflavone, chalcone and hesperetin in its root exudates. It also promoted exudation of five types of flavonoids by wheat compared with monocropping. Our findings suggest that the flavonoids in root exudates have a positive effect on the nodulation and nitrogen fixation of faba bean in faba bean and wheat intercropping.
Highlights
In the pot experiment (Table 1), we found that grain yields of faba bean and wheat in intercropping were 8.70%, 14.56% higher than that observed in monocropping, respectively
The nodules number and dry weight, dry weight per nodule in intercropped faba bean significantly were 80.23%, 133.33% and 29.62% higher than those found in monocropped at the flowering stage (95d), and 5.80%, 139.58% and 126.11% higher than that observed in monocropped at seed-filling stage (131d), which indicated that faba bean and wheat intercropping likely promote faba bean nodulation
The concentrations of flavonol, isoflavone, chalcone and hesperetin in intercropping faba bean root exudates during the nodulation period were increased when compared with monocropping, and we found that flavonol, naringenin and hesperetin of flavonoids in root exudates were more sensitive components relating to faba bean nodulation
Summary
Intercropping is advanced as one of the foremost conventional production practices used in agro-ecosystem, a set of investigations have clearly demonstrated that compared with monocropping, it could increase natural resources use efficiency (Gao et al 2009; Rivest et al 2010; He et al 2013), boost crop yield and mineral nutrient accumulation (Nataraj et al 2010; Mao et al 2012), enhance biological diversity (Nai et al 2013; Zhang et al 2015), and lower disease, insect, and weed pressures (Workayehu & Wortmann 2011; Abdel-Monaima & Abo-Elyousr 2012; Boudreau 2013). Root is the major organ of the plant to uptake nutrients and water, and its root exudates play an important role in rhizosphere processes (Terzano et al 2015). Flavonoids in root exudates are a class of widely distributed secondary metabolites that play an important function in mediating the interaction of plants with their environment (Pourcel et al 2007). Scientists found that there were different components of flavonoids in legume root exudates in the monocropping system (Miao & Liu 2010; Li 2013), when legume is intercropped with cereal does it promote the exudation of the flavonoids by root? Scientists found that there were different components of flavonoids in legume root exudates in the monocropping system (Miao & Liu 2010; Li 2013), when legume is intercropped with cereal does it promote the exudation of the flavonoids by root? How is it promoted? At present, these problems are still not very clear
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