Influence of Salicylic acid on Proximate, Mineral element, Vitamin composition and Amino acid profile of Vigna unguiculata

Vigna unguiculata is a multifunctional crop widely cultivated worldwide for its nutritional value. But its growth and development are being limited by major constraints including the unavailability of improved seeds, poor soil fertility among others which ultimately reduce overall protein, vitamin content and nutrient bioavailabilty thereby making the crop less beneficial for both human diets and livestock. Salicylic acid, a plant growth bioregulator, has been shown to enhance the growth and development of plants. The present study aims to investigate the influence of salicylic acid on proximate, mineral element, vitamin composition and amino acid profile of V. Unguiculata. Two varieties of V. unguiculata seeds (Ife BPC and BBT-white) n=20 were surface sterilised and pre-treated with 0.5 and 1.0 µM of salicylic acid respectively. They were then sown (n=5) in a 5kg pot of soil in a completely randomised blocked design (CRBD) in a screen house. The plants were harvested at maturity, and proximate, mineral element, vitamin composition and the amino acid profile were evaluated. The results showed that crude protein, fat and fibre, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium and molybdenum vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9) and amino acid profile were significantly increased in V. Unguiculata treated with 0.5 and 1.0 µM when compared with the control, while highest mean value was observed in plant treated with 1.0 µM of salicylic acid. Also, Ife-BPC exhibits a higher mean value than BBT-white in all the parameters examined. Therefore, this study suggests that salicylic acid at 1.0 µM could serve as a promising concentration to enhance the proximate, mineral element, vitamin composition and amino acid profile of V. Unguiculata.