Effect of earthworm humic substances on esterase and peroxidase activity during growth of leaf explants of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia

Leaf explants of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia were compared in cultures supplemented with hormones or humic substances (extracted from faeces of Allolobophora caliginosa) of various molecular complexity and concentration. The results showed that the humic substances (F1, F2, and T) at the concentration of 1 mg C L-1 produced greater leaf explants than those grown in the control. Furthermore, humic fractions like gibberellic alone induced a rhizogenic activity in leaf explants. Quantitative differences were also observed in the peroxidase activity induced in Nicotiana plumbaginifolia by humic matter (F1, F2, and T). In addition, the Nicotiana sp. tissue treated with humic fractions revealed, in the esterase enzyme pattern, the appearance of the 2a band, which was attributable to indoleacetic acid, since its profile was consistent with those obtained from tissues treated with indoleacetic acid. These differences demonstrate that humic substances exhibited a hormone-like behaviour, but no evidence of a relationship between biological activities and chemical characteristics of humus substances was found.