Augmentation of major isoflavones in Glycine max L. through the elicitor-mediated approach

Isoflavone content in soybean seeds was enhanced by the elicitor-mediated approach under field conditions through the floral application of abiotic elicitors-salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate and biotic elicitors-Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oligosporus. Among isoflavones, daidzein and glycitein were found to be highly responsive to elicitors, with an increase of 53.7% and 78.7%, respectively as compared to control. Highest total isoflavone content (1276.4 mg g-1 of seeds) was observed upon the administration of 0.1 mMsalicylic acid, which is 92.7% higher than in control. This study would be valuable for augmentation of the isoflavone content in soybean seeds in field grown plants for better nutraceutical potential.