Crop improvement and abiotic stress tolerance promoted by Moringa leaf extract

Authors: UL ISLAM, MD.ABIR - Bangladesh Agricultural University; NUPUR, JUTHY - Bangladesh Rice Research Institute; Hunter, Charles; SOHAG, ABDULLAH - Bangladesh Agricultural University; SAGOR, ASHADUZZAMAN - Bangladesh Agricultural University; HOSSAIN, MD. SAZZAD - Bangladesh Agricultural University; LATEF, ARAFAT A.H.A - South Valley University; TAHJIB-UL-ARIF, MD. - Bangladesh Agricultural University

Submitted to: Phyton International Journal Of Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2022
Publication Date: 4/14/2022
Citation: Ul Islam, M., Nupur, J.A., Hunter III, C.T., Sohag, A.A., Sagor, A., Hossain, M., Latef, A., Tahjib-Ul-Arif, M. 2022. Crop improvement and abiotic stress tolerance promoted by Moringa leaf extract. Phyton International Journal of Botany. 91, 1557-1583. https://doi.32604/phyton.2022.021556
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.021556

Interpretive Summary: Moringa leaf extract (MLE) from the plant Moringa oleifera is a common herbal medicine used in many cultures. Treatment of crops with MLE serves as a yield enhancer and has become common in parts of southeast Asia. MLE has garnered attention as an environmentally friendly and renewable source for combating decreased yield loss from environmental stresses. Scientists from Bangladesh, Egypt, and the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, FL review recent literature on MLE and summarize the current understanding of MLE-mediated stress tolerance in plants and outline possible mechanisms for MLE's mode of action. Generally, MLE application relieves environmental stresses (drought, cold, heat, salinity, and heavy metal) by causing plants to uptake and accumulate higher concentrations of beneficial compounds within the plant. These changes appear to be induced via plant hormone signaling that promotes protection against oxidative stress. MLE also serves as an important nutritive source, being very high in growth-promoting compounds and mineral nutrients that provide a stabilizing force for plants undergoing stress. This review also highlights areas where additional research on the mechanisms of MLE-induced stress tolerance would be helpful. Collating and disseminating this knowledge may inspire other research programs to further investigate or incorporate the use of MLE into their studies.

Technical Abstract: Moringa leaf extract (MLE) has been shown to promote beneficial outcomes in animals and plants. It is rich in amino acids, ascorbate, phytohormones, minerals, and many other compounds with nutritional and growth-promoting potential. Recent reports indicated that MLE improved abiotic stress tolerance in plants by promoting osmolyte accumulation and upregulating antioxidant defense systems. Despite widespread interest, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MLE-mediated abiotic stress tolerance remains limited. This review summarizes the existing knowledge surrounding MLE’s role in promoting plant stress acclimation processes and provides possible mechanisms underlying its activity.