Regulation Of Tomato Growth By Alkaloids Contained Matrine

Botanical pesticide is one of the hottest topics in current pesticide discovery research. This kind of pesticide tends to regulate the growth of crops in field applications, in addition to the insecticidal, antimicrobial and weeding utility. As a novel and safe botanical pesticide, the registration of matrine and related products ranked first in China. At present, the main compositions of these products are Sophora alopecuroides L. alkaloids or Sophora flavescens. Ait alkaloids, but matrine is only the presentative composition. These agents were found to promote growth of crops in farmland experiment. Therefore we investigated the effect of matrine, S. alopecuroides alkaloids and S. flavescens alkaloids on tomato growth and development in order to futher understand their features, give full play to their effectiveness and serve the productive practice. Avermectins was chosen as the contrast agent, and the changes of morphology, physiological and biochemical indexes, fruit quality and yield were measured. The analysis of the data suggests the following results:(1) Under tested concentrations(333.0, 166.5 and 111.0 mg·L-1), matrine, S. flavescens alkaloids and S. alopecuroides alkaloids could stimulate growth of tomato seedlings. Under recommended concentration(166.5 mg·L-1), 7th day after the first spray, the relative growth rate of tomato plant height increased by 33.33%, 84.00% and 35.51%, respectively, net increase of stem diameter of tomato plant increased by 37.37%, 61.97% and 31.54%, respectively, compared with the blank control(water treatment). But the alkaloids did not significantly influence leaf morphological factors.(2) Under tested concentrations(333.0, 166.5 and 111.0 mg·L-1), matrine, S. flavescens alkaloids and S. alopecuroides alkaloids could induce the plant to enhance resistance at different degrees. And matrine proved to be a shorter period of validity than total alkaloids.3rd day after the third spray, tomatoes treated by matrine(166.5 mg·L-1), the content of flavonoids, total phenol and proline increased by 47.67%, 89.73% and 30.84% compared with control, respectively. And the malonaldehyde content decreased by 16.49%; 7th~15th day after the third spray, matrine treatments have no significant difference compared with control.Under recommended concentration(166.5 mg·L-1), 15 th day after the third spray, tomatoes treated by S. flavescens alkaloids, CAT activity increased by 33.77%, the content of chlorophyll, flavonoids, total phenol and proline increased by 13.70%, 25.00%, 22.50% and 15.61%, respectively, the relative electric conductivity increased by 10.98%, and malonaldehyde content decreased by 36.29%. Tomatoes treated by S. alopecuroides alkaloids, POD activity increased by 55.82%, the content of chlorophyll, flavonoids, total phenol and proline increased by 6.90%, 25.00%, 18.75% and 55.90%, respectively.(3) S. flavescens alkaloids and S. alopecuroides alkaloids could increase the yield of tomato remarkably. Tomatoes treated by S. flavescens alkaloids, the early yield was increased by 29.60%, and the single fruit on the first and second cluster weight increased by 52.33% and 32.93%, respectively. Tomatoes treated by S. alopecuroides alkaloids, the early yield was 16.48% more than blank control, and the single fruit on the first and third cluster weight increased by 13.07% and 9.15% respectively as well.(4) S. flavescens alkaloids and S. alopecuroides alkaloids had no adverse influence on fruit quality. Tomatoes treated by S. flavescens alkaloids, the mean of soluble sugar content increased by 33.50%, the mean of titratable acid content decreased by 26.50%, the mean of vitamin C content increased by 30.56%, and the nitrate content decreased by 20.00%. Tomatoes treated by S. alopecuroides alkaloids, the mean of soluble sugar content did not have significant difference compared with the blank control, the mean of titratable acid content increased by 23.88%, the mean of vitamin C content decreased by 13.62%, and the nitrate content increased by 22.86%, which was still in the requirement range of health and safety of vegetable in China.The results showed that matrine, S. flavescens alkaloids and S. alopecuroides alkaloids all could promote growth of tomato during vegetative period and increase the production during reproductive period under recommended concentration(166.5 mg·L-1). Additionally they didn’t have adverse effect on fruit quality, and could induce the plant to enhance resistance as well. So this kind of botanical pesticide exhibited favorable effect on the growth and development of crops, which could be worth extensive application.