Role of elicitors foliar application in increasing isoflavone content of two soybean cultivars

Abstract

Background and Objective: Increased accumulation of isoflavones in soybeans can be done by inducing a soybean with biotic or abiotic elicitor which stimulates production of phytoalexin in soybean. The objective of the research was to determine the best elicitor for increasing isoflavone content in Anjasmoro and Wilis cultivar. Materials and Methods: The research design used in this study was a randomized block design factorial. The treatments are 3 factors and 3 replications. The first factor is soybean cultivars (Anjasmoro and Wilis). The second factor is foliar application of elicitors consisted of without elicitor; chitosan (1 mg mL-l), methyl jasmonate (0.5 mM) and salicylic acid (0.5 mM). The third factor is the time of foliar application of elicitors consisted of V4 (four trifoliate leaves are fully developed) and R3 (early podding). The parameters of observations are genistein, daidzein, glycitein and total isoflavones. The data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures, the SAS version 12 computer program and comparison of means were tested for significance using Duncan's Multiple RangeTest(DMRT)(p=0.05).Results:The results suggested that in Wilis cultivar, thefoliar application of chitosan elicitor at R3 is able to increase the content of genistein (25.10%), daidzein (42.76%), glycitein (76.50%) and total isoflavones (37.04%). Conclusion: The best treatment in increasing the content of genistein, daidzein, glycitein and total isoflavones in Wilis cultivar is foliar application of chitosan elicitor at R3.