Improving Growth, Productivity and Anatomical Features of Wheat Using Licorice root Extract.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of licorice root extract (LRE) as a biostimulants
on the growth and productivity in relation to anatomical Features of wheat plants during the 2018/19 and
2019/20 seasons. Normally, LRE was used with different concentrations )of 2.5, 5, and 10 g l-1 as a grain
soaking and then foliar spraying on 45-day-old seedlings(. The results indicated that aapplication of LRE
significantly increased root size, plant height, root and shoot dry weights, tillers and leaves number as
well as leaves area plant-1. Meanwhile decreased root/shoot ratio and leaf area ratio. Additionally, LRE
treatments significantly increased the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in the flag leaf, NPK,
crude protein, and total carbohydrates in the shoots compared to untreated plants. Anatomically, LRE
treatments increased the thickness of stem wall tissues, epidermis, ground tissue, and the number of
vascular bundles of the wheat stems as well as the thickness of flag leaf mid-vein and lamina, mesophyll,
phloem, and xylem tissues relative to untreated plants. These anatomical alterations are consistent with
the higher grain yield and its components and quality (N, P, K, protein and carbohydrates). Generally,
application of 5 g l-1 LRE was the most effective concentration compared to the control and the other
LRE treatments during both seasons. It may be concluded that using LRE at a concentration of 5 gl-1 as
an organic, eco-friendly treatment to improve growth and productivity of wheat and reduce the risks of
using synthetic growth regulators.