Verification of the potential of food waste as a plant vitalizer

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K12289
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 64020:Environmental load reduction and remediation-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Hatano Ken-ichi 群馬大学, 大学院理工学府, 助教 (20282410)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物活力剤 / 食品廃棄物 / 廃糖蜜 / メラノイジン / 植物修復 / 褐変物質 / シリカキセロゲル / 徐放性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In an experimental field, we cultivated leaf vegetables Komatsuna and cabbage, and fruit vegetables edamame and hyacinth bean under various additive conditions of melanoidin-like product (MLP) from sugarcane molasses. We measured the fresh weight of each tissue of the harvested plants, and in the case of fruit vegetables, the production of various pods. Additionally, each tissue was ground and centrifuged, and the supernatant was analyzed for various biochemical indicators. As a representative example, the cultivation results of edamame are highlighted: under the condition of adding 60 mg of MLP, the number of pods containing three beans, which are considered to have high commercial value, was significantly higher compared to the control condition, and the nitrate ion concentration was significantly lower. The cause of these results was comprehensively examined through the biochemical indicators of edamame beans, leaves, and soil.

Free Research Field

環境科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

土壌の生化学的指標を合わせて総合的に考察すると、MLP添加によって土壌中のミネラルや硝酸イオンの根への取り込みが促進されることがわかった。一方、葉においては硝酸イオンが過剰となり、莢ではMLP添加によって葉より豊富に供給される硝酸イオンを利用してタンパク質の生合成が促進され、MLPを添加した条件では豊富なタンパク質を使って豆の多い莢に多くが分化したと推測された。このようにMLPの添加は、従来の肥料のように栄養素を供給するのではなく、栄養素の作物の各組織間の移動効率を高めて作物を元気にさせ商品価値を高める植物活力剤としての高い可能性を示した。