Mineral humic acid is extracted from peat, lignite, and weathered coal in the geology, and it is widely used in the agricultural field. So do you know its role? In this article, the author will give you an in-depth explanation of the role and function of mineral humic acid around its stimulating effect on plant root growth.
The stimulating effect of mineral humic acid on plant root growth is the initial driving force for its promoting effect on plant growth. The stimulating effect of mineral humic acid on plant root growth is mainly reflected in promoting the increase in root length and root number.
Experiments show that under the treatment of mineral humic acid, the number of tomato lateral roots increases by 150% to 260%, while the length of lateral roots increases by even more, reaching 405% to 2280%. This effect occurs mainly because after mineral humic acid acts on plants, the plants show a stimulating response similar to adding low doses or large amounts of exogenous auxins. This is because mineral humic acid contains organic biostimulants such as cell kinins. related. Therefore, after application, it can increase the biochemical activity of plants, produce an auxin-like effect on the roots, stimulate the increase of kinins and auxins in plant endogenous cells, cause changes in the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane, and promote the synthesis of plant proteins and cells. growth, thereby promoting plant root growth and increasing yield.
The stimulating effect of humic acid from mineral sources on the growth of plant roots causes differential expression of genes related to sucrose metabolism, malic enzyme, ATPase, and cell scaffold proteins in plant roots. Among them, the differential expression of H+-ATPase genes has a significant impact on plant root growth. Crop root growth has the greatest impact.
Studies have shown that mineral humic acid can promote the expression of H+-ATPase encoding gene subtype Mha2 in corn roots, can act as an H+-ATPase induction factor on the plasma membrane to increase cell activity, and induce an increase in the number of H+-ATPase on the plasma membrane surface. Acidification of aprotoplasts, thereby relaxing the cell wall and allowing cell elongation; at the same time, the increase in H+-ATPase activity also increases the electrochemical proton gradient, promoting proton transport across the membrane through the second transport system, thereby improving Plant nutrition stimulates plant root growth.
In addition, mineral-derived humic acid can promote the remodeling of root morphology by stimulating the down-regulation of the negative regulator genes WEREWOLF and GLABRA2 in Arabidopsis root hair cells, increase the root absorption area, and change root cell differentiation; mineral-derived humic acid can also promote corn lateral roots. Increased mitotic sites inhibit ATP hydrolysis and H+ transport.
In short, mineral humic acid can effectively stimulate plant root growth. In addition, it can also promote the absorption of nutrients by plant roots. Another article “The Effect of Mineral Humic Acid: Promoting the Absorption of Nutrients by Plant Roots” will explain this effect to you in detail.