3-Hydroxydecanoic Acid: A Natural Growth Regulator for Optimizing Wheat Development and Yield by Modulating Auxin and...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production is crucial for global food security.
• Developing sustainable plant growth regulators is essential for improving crop yields.
• 3-hydroxydecanoic acid (3-HDA) is a naturally occurring microbial metabolite with potential agricultural applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of 3-hydroxydecanoic acid (3-HDA) on wheat growth, development, and yield.
• To compare the efficacy of 3-HDA with a commercial plant growth regulator.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying 3-HDA's action on wheat.

Main Methods:

• Application of 3-HDA at various concentrations to wheat seedlings and field trials.
• Assessment of growth parameters: root length, fresh weight, stem diameter, tiller number, and chlorophyll content.
• Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR to examine gene expression related to plant hormones.
• Comparison with epibrassinolide (eBL) as a control.

Main Results:

• 3-HDA (53 μM) significantly enhanced seedling growth, tiller formation, and chlorophyll content.
• Field trials showed yield increases of 9.6–20.7% in grain number and weight per plant.
• 3-HDA demonstrated a broad safety margin, with no severe phytotoxicity up to 5.3 mM.
• 3-HDA outperformed the commercial agent epibrassinolide (eBL).

Conclusions:

• 3-HDA acts as a potent and safe plant growth regulator for wheat.
• It enhances wheat yield through improved root architecture and tiller development, modulated by auxin and gibberellin pathways.
• 3-HDA represents a promising, sustainable option for increasing wheat production.