Effects of an aqueous red pine (Pinus densiflora) needle extract on growth and physiological characteristics of soybean (Glycine max)

The effect of allelochemicals on growth, root nodule nitrogen fixation activity, and ion patterns of soybeans were investigated. We prepared 50 g/L (T50), 100 g/L (T100), and 200 g/L (T200) extract concentrations by soaking fresh red pine needles in a nutrient solution. Adding needles to the nutrient solution increased the content of total phenolic acids, osmolality, and total ions. The total phenolic content in the T50, T100, and T200 extracts were 206±12.61, 335±24.16, and 603±12.30 mg gallic acid equivalents, respectively. The K+, Mg²+, Ca²+, and PO₄³- content increased by adding needles to the nutrient solutions, whereas SO₄²- content decreased. The growth inhibition of soybeans was proportional to the needle extract concentrations, and the T100 and T200 concentrations resulted in remarkable growth inhibition. On day 20 after treatment, dry weight and nitrogen fixation activity of the root nodules were reduced by the T100 and T200 treatments, whereas the T50 treatment was not difference from the control. After day 10, total ion content in all treatment groups was not different in comparison with the control. However, total ionic content in all treatment groups decreased significantly compared with that in the control after day 20. The lowest total ion value was found for the T200 concentration. The T200 treatment also resulted in significantly reduced SO₄²- content. The amounts of Mg²+, Ca²+, and Mn²+ were higher than those of the control for the T50 treatment on day 10 and for T100 on day 20 after treatment. A significant increase in osmolality was observed in the T200 treatment on day 10 and in the T100 treatment on day 20. These results suggest that under severe allelochemical stress conditions, a remarkable reduction in nodule formation, nitrogen fixation activity, and ion uptake eventually resulted in a decrease in leaf production. Furthermore, increased K+, Mg²+, Ca²+, Mn²+, and osmolality in soybeans exposed to lower concentrations of allelochemicals than the critical stress level helped overcome the stress.