Amino acids are the basic building blocks of peptides and proteins. The amino acid structure includes an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) and a side chain. Amino acids with different side chains have different properties.
The growth and development process of crops requires various nutrients and substances. The absorption quantity, proportion and balance of these nutrients and substances in the body have a great impact on the nutritional physiology of crops. These factors can be directly related to the quality of crop fruits.
Supplementing essential amino acid from plants can achieve the following effects:
- Stimulate and regulate rapid plant growth and promote strong plant growth.
- Promote the absorption of nutrients, increase the accumulation of dry matter and the speed and quantity of movement from plant roots or leaves to other parts.
- Regulate the proportion and balance of macroelements, trace elements and various nutrients, thereby regulating the normal growth of plants.
Amino acids are the smallest molecules of protein and can be directly absorbed by crops without any conversion. It is the fastest, it is faster than nitrate nitrogen, so it is absorbed immediately after it is applied to the ground and the roots come into contact with it. It is a kind of fertilizer that is absorbed without any conversion.
Amino acid needed by plants:
Alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine (methionine), benzene Alanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine.
Amino acids are classified according to their R groups:
- Non-polar amino acids: alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine (methionine).
- Polar amino acids: serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine.
- Basic amino acids: lysine, arginine, histidine.
- Acidic amino acids: glutamic acid, aspartic acid.
The functions of various amino acids:
Aspartic acid
- Multifunctional amino acids that play a role in all developmental pathways of plants.
- Promote plant growth, development and stimulation.
- Improves seed germination, protein synthesis, and provides nitrogen for production during periods of stress.
Glutamic acid
- Reduce nitrate content in crops, improve seed germination, promote leaf photosynthesis, and increase chlorophyll biosynthesis.
- It interferes with the flowering and fruit setting of future fruits (usually recommended at this stage).
- Promote the absorption of other amino acids.
Alanine
- Alanine is related to helping photosynthesis and obtaining chlorophyll. It increases the synthesis of chlorophyll and promotes greener plants. It also regulates the opening of stomata and enhances the metabolic activity of plants.
- Resistant to germs.
Arginine
- Arginine is a natural precursor of auxin coenzyme, a prerequisite for the synthesis of plant endogenous hormone polyamines, and improves the ability to resist salt stress.
- Promote the development of leaves, stems and new shoots.
- Stimulate the development of root systems (methionine also has a similar effect).
- It is an amino acid used as a stimulant. It is recommended to use foliar spraying (as a stimulant) and integrated fertilizer and water fertilization (to combine nutrients in the soil and stimulate root development).
Asparagine
- Enhance the absorption of nitrogen.
- Used in the case of chlorophyll deficiency caused by nitrogen deficiency, or as a stimulant for foliar spraying.
Phenylalanine
- Promote the synthesis of quinine, the precursor substance for anthocyanin synthesis.
- It is a special component in protein synthesis and phenolic compound or oil synthesis. For extracting plant extracts and possibly having medicinal uses, participating in the plant’s own defense system.
- The activation of anisic acid pathway is very related to phenylalanine.
Glycine
- It has a strong chelation effect, so the high content of glycine helps the absorption of nutrients. It is recommended to be applied to the soil to form complexes with nutrients trapped in it, or added to irrigation fertilizer tanks (provided its pH is compatible with glycine itself).
- Glycine also plays a positive role by improving the flowering and fertilization process, so it also makes sense to use it in the period before flowering.
- Since glycine is closely related to chlorophyll and photosynthesis, it increases the sugar content of crops, and its application also promotes the growth and budding of new shoots.
Hydroxyproline
- Amino acids related to flowering period, pollination and fruit setting.
Histidine
- Related to the metabolic balance and health of plants.
- Activate the protection and defense mechanisms of plants.
- Regulate stomatal opening and provide the prerequisite for carbon skeleton hormones and catalytic enzymes that cooperate with cytokinin.
Isoleucine
- Regulatory amino acids. Balances the internal mechanisms of the plant, improves the characteristics of leaf tissue and provides energy shock, improving resistance to salt stress.
Leucine
- Improves pollen viability and germination, it is very interesting to apply during the flowering and fruit setting stages because it enhances flowering and reduces late fruit drop (fruit abortion). It is also very interesting to apply in olive groves.
Lysine
- Provide resistance in harsh environments, especially drought conditions.
- Related to chlorophyll synthesis, enhancing chlorophyll synthesis.
- Acts as a catalyst in nitrogen absorption.
Methionine
- Promote fruit ripening and color acquisition.
- Precursors for the synthesis of plant endogenous hormones ethylene and polyamines.
- Irrigation and fertilization (applied to irrigation) are beneficial to root growth.
- Related to the absorption of nitrate.
Proline
- Proline is a regulator of internal plant functions and is usually activated under plant stress conditions, increasing plant tolerance to osmotic stress. Therefore, external application of this amino acid is very beneficial to get rid of negative situations in situations such as drought, cooling, wind or hail.
- Improve plant stress resistance and pollen vitality.
Serine
- It is the precursor for the formation of other amino acids.
- It is a regulator of the mechanism or pathway of plants to resist attacks (such as herbivore attacks, mechanical damage, etc.).
- Participate in cell tissue differentiation and promote germination.
Tyrosine
- Provides energy for crops and has anti-stress and anti-impact effects on plant metabolism.
- It is the precursor of plant defense mechanism and increases drought tolerance.
- Improve pollen germination.
Threonine
- Helps plant growth.
- Suitable for use when plants are in a stagnant phase or require stimulation.
- Improve tolerance to insect pests and diseases, and improve humification process.
Tryptophan
- The endogenous hormones auxin and indole acetic acid are synthesized precursors to improve the synthesis of Fen compounds.
- Activate plant defense pathways (animal attack, mechanical damage, drought, etc.).
Valine
- Valine can enhance and promote seed germination, so it can be added when watering, or soaked directly before planting.
- Helps plants resist stress, such as low temperature, low soil temperature, etc.
- Improve the flavor of crops.
