Effect of two biofertilizers on growth parameters, yield characters, nitrogenous components, nucleic acids content, minerals, oil content, protein profiles and DNA banding pattern of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Vedock) yield

A field trial was conducted during 2000 and 2001 growing seasons at the green house of Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University to study the effect of bio- fertilization with different doses of two biofertilizers (biogien and microbien) on the vegetative growth, yield and its components as well as, seed oil content and quality, nitrogen components, total protein and protein profiles and DNA banding patterns in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Vedock) plant yield. Application of both biofertilizers either alone or in combined treatment leads to considerable improvement in sunflower yield characters as compared with their respective control. However, response differed according to the type of biofertilizers. The results revealed that bio- fertilization perform significant improvement in plant productivity and quality. The highest stimulatory effect and the maximum enhancement were exerted in plants treated with biogien at the recommended dose (5%). It seems reasonable to conclude that bio- fertilization significantly increased seed yield, nutrient contents of seeds, nitrogen and all nitrogenous compounds, mineral and seed oil contents. However, both biofertilizers decreased the main saturated fatty acids; palmitic and stearic, while increased the main unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic and linolenic). Thus the yield oil becomes more safer for human consumption. It is of interest to mention here that, The application of biofertilizers induced over or low gene expression of most mid and high molecular weight protein bands. They also induced two new proteins of low molecular weight (2.1 kDa for biogien and 14.9 kDa for microbien). These low molecular weights proteins may be used as an adaptive mechanism for bio-fertilizer application in plants to give the maximum yield. These results are supported by the finding that, bio-fertilization showed little changes in DNA banding patterns. These changes are either monomorphic quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative changes were recorded clearly using primer OPI-01, while quantitative changes with disappeared and many faint bands were obtained using primers OPI-02, -03, -04 and -05. Based on combined effect of both biofertilizers, protein and DNA profiles of sunflower showed the lowest degree of variability. In general, it could be concluded that, bio-fertilization is a good tool to improve the crop yield productivity and quantity, reduce the rate of chemical fertilizers and the cost of cro