| AMINO ACIDS IN AGRICULTURE |
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Plants like people ,require a balanced diet.If a plant lacks any of the nutrients it requires,its development, growth and reproduction will be affected , resulting in reduced yields. Deficiencies may not be immediately apparent and a plant may suffer from malnutrition long before any symptoms become evident. This is known as hidden hunger. It is therefore important to apply nutrients not only when symptoms appear, but on a regular basis as a maintenance program. The quick and effective alleviation of deficiency symptoms and maintenance of healthy nutrient levels can be obtained by the regular foliar application of BIOLIFE & BIOMINO products.
Proteins are the basic building blocks of living cells. Proteins are formed by sequence of amino acids. The amino acids are organic substances consisting of an asymmetric carbon to which are bounded an amino group(-NH2),a carboxylic group (-COOH) & two characteristics radicals of each amino acid (R & R") Although there are number of amino acids from the agricultural point of view alpha amino acids are of great interest.
Plants synthesize amino acids from primary elements, carbon & oxygen obtained from atmosphere & hydrogen from water in the soil, forming carbon hydrates by means of photosynthesis and combining it with the nitrogen which plants obtain from soil thus producing amino acids.
Animals can not synthesize amino acids from simple elements. They obtain amino acids from food & are used to build their proteins. Living beings synthesize their proteins within the organism due to availability of specific enzymes which catalyze synthesis reactions from amino acids.
Plants absorb nitrogen through its roots in the form of nitrate small percentage in the form of ammonia which become nitric & then ammonia.The ammonia reacts with biochemical cellular compounds giving rise to glutamic acid & aspartic acid. Amino acids which through transmission gives rise to the other amino acids .By means of activating enzymes specific to each amino acid the process of protein synthesis begins in the cellular protoplasm. The process of synthesis of amino acids from nitrate obtained from the soil requires a great amount of energy. If there is a deficiency of nitrogen in the soil due to poor nitrification or if the conditions of stress are are present such as drought, frost, pest attack it makes the process difficult causing serious prejudicial effect on the yield. This can be allivated by applying Amino Acids directly to cells i.e. through foliar spraying.
Bio Life™ is a Naturally Sourced Bio Nutritional Organic BioStimulant based on L-Amino Acids containing Organic Nitrogen as plant nutritional substance.
Bio Life™ is Ecologically produced solely from organic substances of NON GMO Soybeans or Milk Protein suitably transformed by a specially developed industrial process employing fermentation in presence of Specialty enzymes in a controlled environment in order to get L-amino acids which can be assimilated by plants very easily than DL amino acids produced by conventional hydrolysis process. The liquid containing L-amino acids is then Spray Dried in such a way to get Micro Granular structure having very Low Bulk Density. |
| BIOMINO™is Mineral Nutrient CHELATED with AMINO ACIDS for Plant Development. The amino acids used in BIOLIFE & BIOMINOproducts are extracted from plant material or from animal milk protein and are thus from natural origin. Chelation is the process whereby an organic chain or ligand is attached to a mineral nutrient, by more than one bond, to form a ring structure. Ligands can either be synthetic such as . EDTA, DTPA and EDDHA, etc or natural such as amino acids, chlorophyll and hemoglobin. |
| BENEFITS OF CHELATION? |
| Nutrients like K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn , Cu and Zn are positively charged ions, which react to the external environment. These positively charged ions can be attracted to negatively charged leaf and soil particle surfaces, and may even be adsorbed onto the exchange sites of soil particles under certain conditions. This action may reduce the availability of the ions to the plant. Chelation is used to minimize or reduce the charge of the ion, making it less susceptible to adsorption on charged surfaces and more available to the plant. |
| AMINO ACIDS PRODUCTION METHODS:- |
The quality of a BioStimulant based on Amino Acids is directly connected with the production procedure adopted.
Generally, the aim of the procedures is to produce Peptide bond cleavage in order to liberate the amino acids. But the different ways of carrying out this step can cause great variation in the final product. |
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Amino Acids are produced by following methods:-
1.Acid Hydrolysis
2.Controlled Acid Hydrolysis
3.Enzymatic Hydrolysis.
Acid Hydrolysis:-
The acid hydrolysis is comprised of use of strong inorganic acid such as Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid on Vegetable or Animal Origin Protein substances. It is very aggressive procedure conducted at high temperature ,pressure & very low pH.
The natural diversity & the different sources of the protein substances indicate the relation of amino acids.
The protein content of raw material gets different qualities of the final product i.e. amino acids. This method has problems such as Amino Acids produced are of D ,Dextrorotatory in nature. The effect of acid destroys lot of amino acids which disappear ammonia form. The pH & temperature conditions at which hydrolysis is conducted destroys some elements like Tryptophan having biostimulant effect.
Acid Hydrolysis:-
This method is ususlly carried out under less aggressive conditions of pH & temperature than the Acid Hydrolysis. This method saves some elements with biostimulant effect ,the loss of amino acids in the ammonia form is lower. But the efficacy of hydrolysis is lower due to controlled conditions. Enzymatic Hydrolysis:-
This method involves use of Proteolytic Enzymes over the selected Vegetable or Animal Origin protein rich substance. These enzymes only cleave the peptide bonds. The Amino Acids obtained using method contains only L-amino acids, peptides with low molecular weight & elements with biostimulant effect.
This unique Enzymatic Hydrolysis is adopted to produce BIOLIFE & BIOMINO
In a product based on Amino Acids the efficiency of the production procedures is determined by the “Degree of Hydrolysis”. |
| Degree of Hydrolysis DH = |
Free Amino Acids x 100 |
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| Total Amino Acids | |
| The Degree of Hydrolysis obtained using various Production process is as follows: |
| Acid Hydrolysis |
DH <= 45% |
| Enzymatic Hydrolysis |
DH >= 65% |
| Controlled Acid Hydrolysis |
DH <= 20% |
| Enzymatic Hydrolysis |
DH >= 65% | |
Free Amino Acids:
This term is used to determinate the amino acids which are not bonded. Their molecular weight is low, and plants can easily assimilate them.
In product based on amino acids, this fraction provides the efficacy. That means: |
| Free Amino Acids = Active Ingredients |
Total Amino Acids :
This term is used for the Free Amino Acids as also for the others like peptides, polypeptides and proteins. It can be written by the formula:
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| Total Amino Acids = Free Amino Acids + ( Peptides + Polypeptides ) |
| L & D Amino Acids: |
| Amino acids present in nature show optical activity, that is they can turn the plane of polarized light & that is because they have an asymmetric carbon with four different substitute groups which are distributed around the carbon. Then can give two different arrangements or optical isomers. Among the alpha amino acids two types are differentiated according to the position of amino (-NH2) group. |
| Levo Type: When the amino group is located on the left side;a configuration similar to the L-glyceraldehyde which is a sugar & taken as reference. |
| Dextrotype: When the amino group is located on the right side;a configuration similar to L-glyceraldehyde. |
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| DIPEPTIDE (Binding of 2 amino acids |
| (1) PEPTIDE LINK |
PEPTIDES:-
The peptides come from the union of two to ninety bonded amino acids. As the number of amino acids in the peptide increases, the possibility of being assimilated by the plant decreases. In this way, the peptide formed by the binding of two amino acids, is easily assimilated by plants |
PROTEINS:-
Proteins are formed by the binding of polypeptide chains.
The structural units of proteins are the amino acids which are chained together in accordance with a disposition and a peculiar order for each protein.
Amino acids contained in BIOLIFE & BIOMINO are levo L in configuration where as those obtained through synthesis or insufficiently controlled or acid & alkali hydrolysis are a mixture of levo & dextro rotatory recemic amino acids without optical activity. This is because the amino acids synthesized in the plant cell are produced by enzymes which have stereochemical specificity.
While the amino acids synthesized in the laboratory are racemics & their resolution or separation in D& L isomers would require laborious fractioning procedures which are not economical & are very difficult. In the amino acids produced from insufficiently controlled hydrolysis the amino acids tend to racemize & generate the shedding of ammonia which shows destruction of active principles.
The amino acids present in the proteins of plants are all optically active & L- levo rotatory in configuration hence biologically functional. The amino acid obtained from BIOLIFE & BIOMINO are levo rotatory amino acids they get perfectly assimilated by plants & incorporated in the metabolic routes of synthesis when applied as foliar spray or through soil. Only levo rotatory get assimilated in the plants while dextro rotatory are not recognized by enzyme locus & therefore can nor intervene in the synthesis. This explains why the enzymatically produced amino acids are well assimilated than synthesized amino acids. |
| AMINO ACIDS in PLANT NUTRITION: |
| Plants are capable of absorbing nutrients through their leaves. A solution of Amino Acids with low molecular weight less than 400 gm per mole like BIOMINO can be applied through the leaves so that it can be incorporated into the sap in order to save the energy which is needed for protein synthesis &it helps in increasing efficiency of protein formulation. |
| The amino acids from BIOLIFE & BIOMINO are mainly absorbed through stomotas & incorporated into the sap as they are capable of penetrating the cellular membranes & incorporating themselves into the metabolic routes of protein synthesis. In very few hours amino acids in BIOLIFE & BIOMINO make their way towards the plant growing constituents. The season of application has a little effect on physiological state. |
| The physiology of the plant is more important as the amino acids are completely assimilable with in the plants. Due to this ready made food plant synthesize more of organic substances , obtain greater vigor & vegetable development with an increase in firming of the fruit , large sized fruits with better keeping quality. |
| Amino Acid application is specifically of great use when plants are under stress conditions which make the synthesis of amino acids more difficult. Thus foliar nutrition of BIOLIFE & BIOMINO leads to increase in plant health & increase in yield. |
| Moreover Amino Acids can also be applied into the soil given that these amino acids are important food for microorganisms in the soil in such a way that they favor its development & growth activating the assimilation of nutrients. This increase in the bacterial flora results in a remarkable increase in the fertility of soil. Amino acids also helps in better root propagation & development of lateral root system which helps in better absorption of nutrients & micronutrients. |
| AMINO ACIDS FUNCTIONS: |
It is well known that all the amino acid do not have same importance in the plants & that they are required in different quantities. For example LLysine, L-Tryptophan & L-Methonine are needed in very low concentration. L-Glutamic acid & L-Aspartic acid by transmination give rise to the rest of the amino acids. The mot found amino acids in plants are L-Glycine, L-Proline & L-Arginine.
Nevertheless they are all essential & interdependent in such a way that the excess or absence of one of them van block the synthesis of other. |
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Amino Acids with the R group Acid:
1.Aspartic acid having Mol.Wt:133 useful in:- Seed Germination ,Amino Acid Metabolism
2.Glutamic acid having Mol.Wt:147 useful in:- Chlorophyll forerunner, Seeds Germination, Leguminous module, Amino Acid Forerunner |
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Amino Acids with R Group Not Polar:-
1.Alanine having Mol.Wt.98 useful in:- Synthesis of chlorophyll , Stomato Opening Regulation , Hydric Stress, Pollination
2.Phenylalanine having Mol.Wt.165 useful in:- Pollination Lignin Forerunner Humic Compounds
3.Isoleucine having Mol.Wt:131 useful in:- Saline Stress Pollen Germination Pollination
4.Leucine having Mol.Wt.146 useful in:- Saline Stress Pollen Germination
5.Methionine having Mol.Wt.199 useful in:- Ethylene forerunner Ripening Stomata Opening Regulation
6.Proline having Mol.Wt.115 useful in Pollen Germination Saline Stress Hydric Stress
7.Valine having Mol.Wt.117 useful in Hydric Stress Seed Germination Pollination |
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Amino Acids with R Group Polar:-
1.Glycine having Mol.Wt.75 useful in Chelate Action Pyrrole Grous forerunner
2.Serine having Mol.Wt. 105 useful in:- Humic Compounds Pollination
3.Threonine Mol.Wt.119 useful in:- Hydric Stress Pollination
4.Tyrosine having Mol.Wt.181 useful in:- Pollination Pollen Germination Hydric Stress
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Amino Acids with R Group Basic:-
1.Arginine having Mol.Wt.174 useful in:- Saline Stress Component of Sap Root Development Polyamines Forerunner
2.Histidine having Mol.Wt.155 useful in Stomata Opening Regulation. Lysine having Mol.Wt.146 useful in:- Stomata Opening Regulation Pollen Germination Chlorophyll Synthesis.
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L-Glycine is of major importance. It is fundamental metabolite in the formation of vegetable tissue & hence it is the first component of chlorophyll synthesis
L-Proline & hydroxy proline act mainly on hydric balance of the crop strengthening The cellular walls in such a way that they increase resistance to unfavorable climatic conditions of stress. Proline also helps in fertility of pollen.L-Arginine has high biostimulant efficiency in development of plant. |
| The unique process of controlled & perfect Enzymatic Hydrolysis is used to manufacture BIOLIFE & BIOMINO assures balanced amino acids with the most suitable concentration & proportions for vegetable physiology. BIOLIFE & BIOMINO contains large quantity of L-Glycine which plays vital role in synthesis of chlorophyll. It also contains considerable amount of Lproline which acts on the hydric balance. BIOLIFE & BIOMINO also contains good quantity of L-Glutamic acid which is important precursor of other amino acids. The efficiency of amino acid mixture lie in the quantity of each amino acid applied because some are required in large quantities whereas some are required in smaller quantities. BIOLIFE &BIOMINO offers most suitable amount of each amino acids in such a way that there is maximum efficiency in exploitation. |
| EFFECTS OF AMINO ACIDS |
| 1.NITROGEN METABOLISM |
a)Aerial & Underground Circuit
Nitrogen can be absorbed by plants through the roots (chemical fertilization) or through the leaves (foliar fertilization).
There are very different sources of Nitrogen, as mineral nitrogenous fertilizer (nitrate, ammonium, urea) and manure.
After the nitrogen absorption it is transformed from nitrate to ammonium and later to glutamic acid through alpha-ceto-glutaric acid cycle.
Glutamic acid reaction with different organic acids obtains all the other amino acids which is a Amino acids metabolism.
Part of these amino acids will bond to form plant proteins, used into structural functions in cellular membranes and enzymatic processes.
All this process requires a great expenses of energy.
With Terra-Sorb, the plant receives directly the amino acids. All the saving energy can be used for other vital process. |
b) Better Availability of Amino Acids
Besides energy conservation in the Nitrogen absorption, TERRA-SORB also aids for saving energy in the utilization of the amino acids, either for protein synthesis and for the specific functions of the free amino acids.
The absence of any amino acid can prevent the plant to carry on protein synthesis, or any other process for which that missing amino acid would be necessary.
The plant must perform a synthesis of the required amino acids, or an hydrolysis of some protein that contains it, or it must be transferred from some other part of the plant. These process require an extraordinary spend of energy. |
| 2. STRESS RESISTANCE. |
a)Types of Stress
The stress can be caused to the plant by different situations:
--Hydric (Drought, windy weather, etc.)
--Thermic (Frost conditions and high/low temperatures)
--Salinity (Due to irrigation water and soil quality)
--Pest and diseases.
--Atmospheric pollution (Acid rain, high ozone levels)
--Pesticides phytotoxicity (caused by mineral oils, sulfur compounds, herbicides)
--Cultural methods (Post transplanting period)
--Other (Hail, root asphyxia, etc.) |
b)Physiological Consequences of Stress Situation:-
Generally, the stress conditions cause to the plant several common reactions which are as following:-
1. Photosynthesis stop.
2. Decrease of the starch synthesis.
3. Respiration increase.
4. Stomatic regulation.
5. Protein synthesis.
6. Initiation of the foliar senescence process.
7. Proteolysis increase.
8. Variation of the internal potential water in almost all the plant organs.
9. Regulation of the osmotic pressure.
10. Increase of the Abscisic acid (ABA) which causes the fall of inflorescence, of leaves and fruits.
The amino acids accumulation is a phenomenon of natural resistance that belongs to the plant itself.
Internal autoregulations occur during the amino acids distribution when the plants are in adverse situations.
When the plant is in a normal condition, the synthesized amino acids in the root are mostly sorted in the growth organs, meanwhile in the stress situations they are distributed in the whole plant.
The exogenous application of the Lalpha- amino acids through the TEERASORB application aids the plant avoiding the stress, thanks to:
-- water potential
-- Protein and starch metabolism
-- Stomatal behaviour
-- Net photosynthesis |
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c) Water Potential
It is well known that in front of a stress situation the plants present some variations in their osmotic pressure as resistance mechanism facing some possible contaminations or dehydration phenomenon.
Certain amino acids, such as the proline, take part mainly in those regulator process.
The first effects detected in a plant, when the plant is submitted to saline stress This accumulation will act as solute in the osmotic processes which are developed in the cell.
In conditions of asphyxia we get outstanding accumulations of amino acids; even these are contributing with 80% (more than the potassium) of the osmotic potential of the plant.
The salts accumulation in the vacuoles of the stressed plant cells, establishes a low osmotic potential between this one and the affected cytoplasm, which is compensated with the proline accumulation. The quantity of proline increases many times in the extra vacuolar medium, in some plant species. |
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d) Protein & Starch Metabolism:-
In the stress situations, there is a partial inhibition of the starch synthesis and hydrolysis, and synthesis of proteins that create a great deficit of structural and energetic molecules of the plant.
The absence of this causes that some amino acids like proline, aspartic acid, arginine, glutamic acid, etc. can be used as sources of carbon and nitrogen on the plant. |
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e) Stomatal Behaviour:-
The stomates closure of the plants leaves submitted to different types of stress such as high temperatures, low relative humidities is an adaptation mechanism for reducing the water wastage by transpiration. It has negative effects for the increase of plants, because the gaseous exchange and the photosynthesis of plants are extremely reduced. There are alternative mechanisms, normally produced by exogenous applications which make easier these processes.
In numerous references, the exogenous application of the amino acids in plants submitted to hydric stress situations permits a higher water retention in the plant (high swelling) and a delay of the dying. This effect is due to the osmoregulator rule of the amino acids.
The potassium and the malate accumulation in the guard cells of the stomates is essential in order to maintain the stomata opened. It has been referenced the function of amino acids as modifications of the permeability of the guard cells to the water, the potassium and the malate among others.Then, the amino acids exogenously applied have demonstrated antagonist actions against forerunner of the stomata closure like the absicic acid (ABA). It has a fitting action with the specific proteins of guard cells membrane. The amino acids unbalance these unions, restoring the internal flow of the ions and consequently that causes the stomata opening. |
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f) Net Photosyntrhesis:-
Photosynthesis is a basic process in the nature, due to transformation of solar energy in to chemical energy. The net photosynthesis which is total photosynthesis less photorespiration is completely involved with the yield of crops.
In stress conditions, the plants reduce their net photosynthesis which leads to reduction in the metabolism. The exogenous application of amino acids greatly increase the metabolism. In some field trial tests carried out in stress conditions (40% relative humidity) it has been obtained an improvement of 80% of photo synthesis ,in plants treated with BIOLIFE & BIOMINO versus control.
The exogenous application of amino acids based biostimulants are required to avoid stomatal closure, slowing down the photorespiration process and increasing net photosynthesis and, consequently, improving the yield of the crop. |
| 3.SYNERGIC ACTION WITH NUTRIENTS |
In most of the cases the plant can’t assimilate some nutritive elements which are necessary for plant development due to adverse conditions of the edaphic medium or by irrigation water, etc.
Through the chelating molecules this circumstance can be partially corrected because it facilitates the absorption of the nutrient by the plant.
There are a lot of molecules in the nature like certain organic acids, flavonoids sulfonates, purines and amino acids. There are also synthetic chelates like the EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA, etc.
In their structure the amino acids have the capacity to form a coordination unit covalent to the metals through the electrons cession. The main amino acids with chelating properties is the glycine, even that some others have also this capacity.
In the case of the glycine, the unit formed by the divalent metal is fitting the same form of the figure. |
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AMINO ACID CHELATE MOLECULE
The important thing of the chelate formed by amino acids and a metallic ion has the properties of the two compounds of the chelate, maintaining its biological activity even in the cell.
Experimentally, it has been demonstrated that the addition of amino acids increases the permeability of the cellular membrane to the metallic cations. The nutrients entrance into the cell is improved when the metal is forming an amino acid chelate.
The chelates of amino acids with microelements follow a specific and characteristic opening way through the pores present in the cellular membranes. These openings are regulated by protein molecules with cylindric form which are in the lipidic part and passing the chelate by permeability.
The chelate of amino acid has the following features:
-- It is not phytotoxic. A necessary condition for the effectiveness of a chelate.
-- The molecule has enough stability to retain the metal in its structure.
-- It has enough instability to free when it is in availability.
-- It increase the absorption of minerals by developing the permeability of the cellular membrane.
-- It maintains ion solubility thus strengthening the action and the absorption of ion chelates.
The effectiveness of the amino acid chelates is high particularly at the foliar level, and can remedy minor deficiencies in the plant that often have no visible symptoms. |
| 4.PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR EFFECT & BIOSTIMULANT:- |
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a)Plant Growth Regulator Effect:-
Because of its elaboration through enzymatic hydrolysis, BIOLIFE & BIOMINO has certain special features compared to other products based on amino acid. The substances shows cytokinin like effect when amino acids are derived from enzymatic hydrolysis rather than acidic hydrolysis. The cytokinin like effect is due to the enzymatic hydrolysis & the effects are as follows,
-- Chlorophyll biosynthesis
-- Development of the pollinic tube
-- Cellular division
-- Rupture of seed dormancy
-- Fruit development. |
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b)Biostimulant effect:-
The proline increase the action of the gibberelic acid in the development of fruits, and the methionine is the principal forerunner of ethylene in the plants.
By another way, the arginine is a forerunner of different polyamines as:
-- Purtrescine which has an important effect over the fertility of the flowers ovaries of some fruit trees.
-- Spermidine and spermine which delay the plant leaves falling. |
| 5.POLLINATION & FRUIT SETTING:- |
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b)Biostimulant effect:-
Many plants have their agricultural importance through the fruit they are producing. It is very important that the pollination and fertilization processes must be developed in best conditions.
The application of BIOLIFE & BIOMINO contributes in improving those phenomenons:
-- The amino acid is a nutritive attraction for insects. It is mostly important for the entomophylle pollination species.
-- The nutritive substances located into the grain of pollen are not enough to nourish it during all its cycle. Some exogenous nutritive sources are requirement in order to complete its development.
-- The amino acids are one of the vital exogenous compounds of the pollinic tube development. The presence of proline and glutamic acid increase the germination quantity of the pollen grain and makes longer the pollen tube. The lengthening of the tube is also improved due to hydroxyproline and glycine.
The amino acids are involved in the formation of cellular membranes of the pollinic tube. The hydroxyproline, proline, asparagine, arginine, lysine and leucine are some of the amino acids associated to the proteins of the pollinic tube.
It has been referenced that the exogenous application of L-alpha- proline produces a higher pollen resistance against the lose of vitality, due to the non optimal temperatures normally low temperatures. |
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