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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Amino acid biostimulant increases radiata pine photosynthetic efficiency and growth with shifts in mycobiome and nitrogen assimilation
Environmental microbiome, Vol.21(1), pp.1-18
2026
PMID: 41392171
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Background: Amino-acid biostimulants have emerged as powerful alternatives to conventional inorganic nitrogen fertilisers, yet their potential in forestry species like radiata pine (Pinus radiata) remains largely unexplored. In this study, we reveal physiological mechanisms of enhanced growth of radiata pine seedlings that are achieved by substituting standard inorganic fertigation, either partially or entirely, with amino-acid-based biostimulants.
Results: Amino-acid fertigation notably increased shoot biomass, plant height, and root collar diameter. Critically, this approach reshaped the root fungal community, selectively enriching fungi with diverse ecological roles, including several taxa known for auxin production. These microbial shifts coincided with higher needle auxin, a plausible link that merits testing. Machine learning models further identified key fungal genera that strongly associated with plant biomass, reinforcing microbiome shifts as a contributing mechanism to enhanced growth. Additionally, amino-acid fertigation improved nitrogen assimilation, correlating positively with increased chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency.
Conclusions: Our findings highlight that the transition from inorganic source to amino-acid biostimulants not only enhances plant growth and nitrogen use but also associated with a shift in the root mycobiome, including taxa often considered beneficial, thereby offering a sustainable pathway to nursery production of radiata pine.
Details
- Title
- Amino acid biostimulant increases radiata pine photosynthetic efficiency and growth with shifts in mycobiome and nitrogen assimilation
- Creators
- Jamil Chowdhury - Western Sydney UniversityNathan Milne - HVPPMelanie Wade - HVPPRobert Sharwood - Western Sydney UniversityBronwyn Thuaux - Western Sydney UniversityPhil Green - Forestry Corporation of NSWIan Last - HQPJohn Senior - HQPAngus J Carnegie - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentIan C Anderson - Western Sydney UniversityStephen Elms - Western Sydney UniversityKrista L Plett - Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentJonathan M Plett - Western Sydney University
- Publication Details
- Environmental microbiome, Vol.21(1), pp.1-18
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; LONDON
- Grant note
- This research was supported by the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI) program funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Victorian Government, and 25 large forest management entities through Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) under the project titled ‘Innovative nursery management solutions to sustainably manage root disease, improve nursery utilization, and enhance resilience and productivity of planted pines ' (NV070).
- Identifiers
- 991013337989702368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article