Methyl jasmonate, alone or in combination with genistein, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum increases soybean (Glycine max L.) plant dry matter production and grain yield under short season conditions

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone produced via the octadecanoid pathway from its precursor, linolenic acid. Jasmonates are involved in plant wound responses and defense against insects and fungal elicitors. They can also act as signal molecules in the Bradyrhizobium-soybean symbiosis. Pre-incubation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum inocula with gensitein (Ge), an effective inducer of nodulation genes in this species enhances soybean nodulation, nitrogen fixation and yield under low spring soil temperature field conditions. Since jasmonates are also able to induce nodulation genes and cause the production of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) by B. japonicum, we conducted two field experiments, in southwestern Quebec, Canada, to determine whether pre-incubation of B. japonicum with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) alone or in combination with genistein (Ge), prior to inoculation, increased soybean plant dry matter production and grain yield. Experiments at each site used a two factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Two B. japonicum strains (USDA3 and 532C) and four inducer molecule treatments [control, Ge (20 μM), MeJA (50 μM), and Ge + MeJA (20 μM + 50 μM)] were used in the study. The bacterial cultures were induced for 24 h with the inducer molecules and then applied into the furrows at the time of planting. Both Ge and MeJA, alone or in combination, increased plant growth, dry matter accumulation, and grain yield. This study showed that MeJA, alone or in combination with Ge, can be used to promote soybean plant growth and grain yield under short season field conditions.