NMR and LC–MS-based metabolomics to investigate the efficacy of a commercial bio stimulant for the treatment of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Bio stimulants are substances and/or microorganisms that are used to improve plant growth and crop yields by modulating physiological processes and metabolism of plants. While research has primarily focused on the broad effects of bio stimulants in crops, understanding their cellular and molecular influences in plants, using metabolomic analysis, could elucidate their effectiveness and offer possibilities for fine-tuning their application. One such bio stimulant containing galacturonic acid as elicitor is used in agriculture to improve wheat vigor and strengthen resistance to lodging.

However, whether a metabolic response is evolved by plants treated with this bio stimulant and the manner in which the latter might regulate plant metabolism have not been studied.

Therefore, the present study used ¹H-NMR and LC–MS to assess changes in primary and secondary metabolites in the roots, stems, and leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum) treated with the bio stimulant. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis effectively distinguished between treated and control samples, confirming a metabolic response to treatment in the roots, stems, and leaves of wheat.

Fold-change analysis indicated that treatment with the bio stimulation solution appeared to increase the levels of hydroxycinnamic acid amides, lignin, and flavonoid metabolism in different plant parts, potentially promoting root growth, implantation, and developmental cell wall maturation and lignification.

These results demonstrate how non-targeted metabolomic approaches can be utilized to investigate and monitor the effects of new agroecological solutions based on systemic responses.