Enhancing growth, yield, biochemical, and hormonal contents of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) sprayed with moringa leaf extract

Increasing growth and productivity of food crops via safe biostimulants is a very important issue in the current years. This study aimed to investigate the potential of moringa leaf extract (MLE) in improving the performance of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. 'Paulista' under field conditions. Hormonal analysis of MLE revealed its richness of various classes of phytohormones particularly salicylates. The results revealed that all MLE concentrations had a positive effect on growth, biochemical, yield, and yield related traits as well as yield quality of snap bean compared to control, and the effect was dose-dependent. Moreover, increasing pods yield of snap bean may be related to gibberellins (GA(7)) content than other plant hormones. In conclusion, the leaf extract of moringa provides a good source of phytohormones that have a positive role to stimulate growth and productivity of snap bean plants.