Abstract: |
Papain and pepsin‐hydrolyzed whey protein (PAH and PEH, respectively) were prepared
and characterized for its degree of hydrolysis, chemical constituents (amino acid and peptides) and
antioxidant activity. A field experiment was conducted at El Salheya El Gedida City, Sharqia, Egypt,
during the seasons 2019 and 2020, to investigate the biological action of the foliar spray of PAH and
PEH on the growth and yield of pea plants cultivated in a clay loam soil. Foliar application of the
papain and pepsin‐hydrolyzed whey protein (PAH and PEH, respectively) at 1000 and 2000 mg/L
was applied three times after 25, 35 and 45 days from planting. All protein foliar spray treatments
had significant positive effects on the uptake of N, P and K, simultaneously increasing the contents
of all the photosynthetic pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and Carotenoids) in a concentra‐
tion‐dependent manner. The most conspicuous increase was seen in Chlorophyll b (105% increase),
followed by Carotenoids (91% increase). Generally, the favorable increases caused by the second
level of application (2000 mg/L) were nearly 2–3 times that of the low level (1000 mg/L). Pod growth
and formation indicators, e.g., no. of pod/plant, pod length and no. of seeds/pod, responded more
evidently to the hydrolyzed than the intact form of whey protein treatments. Hydrolyzed whey
protein foliar spray treatments achieved significantly higher increases in the global field yield com‐
ponents of Pisum sativum plants than the intact form, where peptic hydrolysates were significantly
superior to papain hydrolysate. The treatment PEH (2000 mg/L) can be recommended as the most
effective bio‐stimulating foliar spray treatment for higher plant productivity when applied 25, 35
and 45 days after planting.
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