{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,30]],"date-time":"2026-08-30T05:16:12Z","timestamp":1788066972504,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":69,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787875200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Paraiba State University","award":["#01\/2026"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["#01\/2026"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002322","name":"Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Aperfei\u00e7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00edvel Superior","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["001"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002322","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"award":["001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["001"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00x0ma614","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Programa Institucional de P\u00f3s-Doutorado","award":["88887.081429\/2024-00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["88887.081429\/2024-00"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003593","name":"Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient\u00edfico e Tecnol\u00f3gico","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["307559\/2022-0"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["307559\/2022-0"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003593","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"award":["307559\/2022-0"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["307559\/2022-0"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03swz6y49","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Global climate change has intensified prolonged droughts, making the development of sustainable agricultural technologies essential. Although potassium humate (KH) and Bacillus aryabhattai (BA) are recognized individually as effective biostimulants, their joint application represents an innovative, unexplored complementary strategy to mitigate drought stress in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these bio-inputs on mitigating water stress in the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) cultivar \u2018BRS Verdejante\u2019. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using a completely randomized design in a 2 \u00d7 8 factorial arrangement, with two water regimes (100% and 50% crop evapotranspiration\u2014ETc) and eight biostimulant combinations of KH and BA. While BA alone (T4) intensified osmotic adjustment via proline accumulation and APX activation, the combined treatment T5 (10 mg kg\u22121 soil KH + 4 mL kg\u22121 seed BA containing 1 \u00d7 108 CFU mL\u22121) achieved the best overall performance under drought (50% ETc). T5 effectively enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, preserved leaf relative water content, and reduced cell membrane electrolyte leakage by 42.6% compared to untreated stressed plants. These physiological adaptations protected reproductive organs, resulting in a 51.6% increase in pod number per plant under drought. The strategic co-application of low-dose potassium humate (10 mg kg\u22121 soil) and B. aryabhattai (4 mL kg\u22121 seed) effectively regulates osmotic and oxidative homeostasis, maintaining pod formation (+51.6%) and securing cowpea grain yield per plant under drought stress, thus serving as a promising strategy to mitigate drought stress in cowpea under controlled greenhouse conditions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants15172629","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T18:33:52Z","timestamp":1787942032000},"page":"2629","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Potassium Humate and Bacillus aryabhattai Modulate Osmotic and Oxidative Homeostasis and Promote Cowpea Yield Under Drought"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-5539-8359","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eul\u00e1lia Margarethe da Costa","family":"Melo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"software","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1828-1088","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Agda Malany Forte de","family":"Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"software","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9547-6236","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Semako Ibrahim","family":"Bonou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Priscylla Marques de Oliveira","family":"Viana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Igor Eneas","family":"Cavalcante","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agronomy, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Guilherme F\u00e9lix","family":"Dias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana Clara da Silva","family":"Dantas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-0107-0076","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"T\u00falio William da Silva","family":"Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Emmanuelly Silva Dias de","family":"Farias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Jessica Agra","family":"Guimar\u00e3es","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2314-6881","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Liziane Maria de","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, EMBRAPA Cotton, Campina Grande 58428-095, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4586-5388","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alberto Soares de","family":"Melo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"resources","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"funding-acquisition","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (2026). State of the Global Climate 2025, WMO."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Core Writing Team, Lee, H., and Romero, J. (2023). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50714","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-50714-z","article-title":"Potassium humate and cobalt enhance peanut tolerance to water stress through regulation of proline, antioxidants, and maintenance of nutrient homeostasis","volume":"14","author":"Elshamly","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Goufo, P., Moutinho-Pereira, J.M., Jorge, T.F., Correia, C.M., Oliveira, M.R., Rosa, E.A.S., Ant\u00f3nio, C., and Trindade, H. (2017). Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) metabolomics: Osmoprotection as a physiological strategy for drought stress resistance and improved yield. Front. Plant Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2017.00586"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Silva, F.F.C., Bila J\u00fanior, F.A., Fernandes, L.F., and Pacheco, F.A.L. (2026). Agricultural water security under water scarcity: Structural patterns, systemic blind spots, and research frontiers in semi-arid regions: A systematic review. Sci, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/sci8050116"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Omomowo, O.I., and Babalola, O.O. (2021). Constraints and prospects of improving cowpea productivity to ensure food, nutritional security and environmental sustainability. Front. Plant Sci., 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2021.751731"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1111\/pbr.12589","article-title":"Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Genetics, genomics and breeding","volume":"138","author":"Boukar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Plant Breed."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Freire Filho, F.R. (2011). Feij\u00e3o-Caupi no Brasil: Produ\u00e7\u00e3o, Melhoramento Gen\u00e9tico, Avan\u00e7os e Desafios, Embrapa Meio-Norte. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e08855","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2022.e08855","article-title":"Phenotypic description of elite cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) genotypes grown in drought-prone environments using agronomic traits","volume":"8","author":"Gerrano","year":"2022","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1590\/1983-21252018v31n110rc","article-title":"Germination and initial growth of cowpea cultivars under osmotic stress and salicylic acid","volume":"31","author":"Melo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Rev. Caatinga"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e283012","DOI":"10.1590\/1807-1929\/agriambi.v29n5e283012","article-title":"Water status, cell integrity, and growth of cowpea plants under water restriction and salicylic acid","volume":"29","author":"Cavalcante","year":"2025","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Eng. Agr\u00edc. Ambient."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Melo, A.S., Costa, R.R., S\u00e1, F.V.S., Dias, G.F., Alencar, R.S., Viana, P.M.O., Peixoto, T.D.C., Suassuna, J.F., Brito, M.E.B., and Ferraz, R.L.S. (2024). Modulation of drought-induced stress in cowpea genotypes using exogenous salicylic acid. Plants, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants13050634"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1590\/1807-1929\/agriambi.v26n3p190-197","article-title":"Water restriction in cowpea plants [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]: Metabolic changes and tolerance induction","volume":"26","author":"Melo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Eng. Agr\u00edc. Ambient."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"656","DOI":"10.1007\/s00344-020-10130-3","article-title":"Bradyrhizobium inoculation plus foliar application of salicylic acid mitigates water deficit effects on cowpea","volume":"40","author":"Andrade","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Plant Growth Regul."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Meena, R.S., Kumar, S., Datta, R., Lal, R., Vijayakumar, V., Brtnicky, M., Sharma, M.P., Yadav, G.S., Jhariya, M.K., and Pecina, V. (2020). Impact of agrochemicals on soil microbiota and management: A review. Land, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/land9020034"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galindo, F.S., Pagliari, P.H., Silva, E.C., Silva, V.M., Fernandes, G.C., Rodrigues, W.L., C\u00e9u, E.G.O., Lima, B.H., Jalal, A., and Muraoka, T. (2022). Co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium sp. enhances nitrogen uptake and yield in field-grown cowpea and did not change N-fertilizer recovery. Plants, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants11141847"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114666","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2022.114666","article-title":"Organic fertilizers activate soil enzyme activities and promote the recovery of soil beneficial microorganisms after dazomet fumigation","volume":"309","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Elshamly, A.M.S., and Abaza, A.S. (2024). Precise partial root-zone irrigation technique and potassium-zinc fertigation management improve maize physio-biochemical responses, yield, and water use in arid climate. BMC Plant Biol., 24.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12870-024-05467-w"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Minist\u00e9rio da Agricultura, Pecu\u00e1ria e Abastecimento (MAPA) (2020). BRASIL. Conhe\u00e7a a Base Conceitual do Programa Nacional de Bioinsumos, MAPA."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jia.2025.09.013","article-title":"Microbial bioinputs in Brazilian agriculture","volume":"25","author":"Vermelho","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Integr. Agric."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Gindri, D.M., Moreira, P.A.B., and Ver\u00edssimo, M.A. (2020). Bioinsumos: O programa nacional e a sua rela\u00e7\u00e3o com a produ\u00e7\u00e3o sustent\u00e1vel, Sanidade Vegetal: Uma Estrat\u00e9gia Global para Eliminar a Fome, Reduzir a Pobreza, Proteger o Meio Ambiente e Estimular o Desenvolvimento Econ\u00f4mico Sustent\u00e1vel."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Lana, U.G.O., Oliveira-Paiva, C.A., Vilela, A.E., Gomes, E.A., Pires, V.L.M., Tinoco, S.M.S., and Valicente, F.H. (2022). Avalia\u00e7\u00e3o da Qualidade de Inoculantes \u00e0 Base de Bacillus para Promo\u00e7\u00e3o de Crescimento de Plantas Produzidos em Sistema On-Farm, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Benito, P., Bell\u00f3n, J., Porcel, R., Yenush, L., and Mulet, J.M. (2023). The biostimulant, potassium humate ameliorates abiotic stress in Arabidopsis thaliana by increasing starch availability. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms241512140"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alharbi, K., Rashwan, E., Hafez, E., Omara, A.E., Mohamed, H.H., and Alshaal, T. (2022). Potassium humate and plant growth-promoting microbes jointly mitigate water deficit stress in soybean cultivated in salt-affected soil. Plants, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants11223016"},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Silva, L.F., Oliveira, J.R.S., and Cruso\u00e9, J.M.S.F. (2024). Tratamento de sementes com a utiliza\u00e7\u00e3o de Bacillus aryabhattai em diferentes doses na cultura da soja. Ci\u00eancias Agr\u00e1rias: Pr\u00e1ticas e Inova\u00e7\u00f5es, Atena. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"El-Beltagi, H.S., Al-Otaibi, H.H., Parmar, A., Ramadan, K.M.A., Lobato, A.K.D., and El-Mogy, M.M. (2023). Application of potassium humate and salicylic acid to mitigate salinity stress of common bean. Life, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/life13020448"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77651","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-77651-9","article-title":"Co-application of organic amendments and natural biostimulants on plants enhances wheat production and defense system under salt-alkali stress","volume":"14","author":"Zaghloul","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9508","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-57354-x","article-title":"Potassium humate supplementation improves photosynthesis and agronomic and yield traits of foxtail millet","volume":"14","author":"Shen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"e6566","article-title":"Uso de bioinsumos como possibilidade de atenua\u00e7\u00e3o dos efeitos do estresse h\u00eddrico","volume":"22","author":"Oliveira","year":"2024","journal-title":"Obs. Econ. Latinoam."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"e3340","article-title":"Growth promotion in maize (Zea mays L.) by Bacillus aryabhattai strain CMAA 1363","volume":"18","author":"Fuga","year":"2023","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Cienc. Agrar."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e01534-16","DOI":"10.1128\/genomeA.01534-16","article-title":"Draft genome sequence of plant growth-promoting drought-tolerant Bacillus sp. strain CMAA 1363 isolated from the Brazilian Caatinga biome","volume":"5","author":"Kavamura","year":"2017","journal-title":"Genome Announc."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sousa, H.C., Sousa, G.G., Viana, T.V.A., Pereira, A.P.A., Lessa, C.I.N., Souza, M.V.P., Guilherme, J.M.S., Goes, G.F., Alves, F.G.S., and Gomes, S.P. (2023). Bacillus aryabhattai mitigates the effects of salt and water stress on the agronomic performance of maize under an agroecological system. Agriculture, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/agriculture13061150"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oliveira, A.L.P., Santos, J.P., Silva, G.F., and Putti, F.F. (2026). Bacillus aryabhattai improves agronomic performance and water use efficiency of common bean under deficit irrigation levels. Crops, 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/crops6020038"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Palmeira, I.V.S., Pereira, R.F., Sousa, C.S., Alves, S.B., Izidro, F.F.S., Pires, J.P.M.M., Sousa, F.S., Fernandes, A.R.G., Silva, A.C.Z., and Melo, A.S. (2026). Combined Application of Bacillus aryabhattai and Silicon Enhances Membrane Stability, Biochemical Attributes, and Soil Biological Quality in Yellow Passion Fruit Under Water Deficit. Horticulturae, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/horticulturae12060707"},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"605919","article-title":"Auras\u00ae, a biostimulant containing Bacillus aryabhattai strain CMAA 1363, enhances drought tolerance and growth in maize plants","volume":"75","author":"Barbosa","year":"2026","journal-title":"Russ. J. Plant Physiol."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"1416960","article-title":"Influence of potassium humate on biochemical and agronomic attributes of bean plants grown on saline soil","volume":"93","author":"Taha","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Hortic. Sci. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"735","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jgg.2022.04.017","article-title":"Plants response to light stress","volume":"49","author":"Shi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Genet. Genom."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scotti, N., and Tamburino, R. (2026). Chloroplasts and plant sustainability: Key roles and emerging insights. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 27.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202604.1950.v1"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Akram, W., Waqar, S., Hanif, S., Anjum, T., Aftab, Z., Li, G., Ali, B., Rizwana, H., Hassan, A., and Rehman, A. (2024). Comparative effect of seed coating and biopriming of Bacillus aryabhattai Z-48 on seedling growth, growth promotion, and suppression of Fusarium wilt disease of tomato plants. Microorganisms, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms12040792"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abdelrasheed, K.G., Mazrou, Y., Omara, A.E., Osman, H.S., Nehela, Y., Hafez, E., Rady, A.M.S., El-Moneim, D., Alowaiesh, B.F., and Gowayed, S.M. (2021). Soil amendment using biochar and application of K-humate enhance the growth, productivity, and nutritional value of onion (Allium cepa L.) under deficit irrigation conditions. Plants, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants10122598"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Siddika, A., Rashid, A.A., Khan, S.N., Khatun, A., Karim, M.M., Prasad, P.V.V., and Hasanuzzaman, M. (2024). Harnessing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, Bacillus subtilis and B. aryabhattai to combat salt stress in rice: A study on the regulation of antioxidant defense, ion homeostasis, and photosynthetic parameters. Front. Plant Sci., 15.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2024.1419764"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e281457","DOI":"10.1590\/1519-6984.281457","article-title":"Osmotic regulators in cowpea bean plants under water deficiency","volume":"84","author":"Martins","year":"2024","journal-title":"Braz. J. Biol."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alencar, R.S., Viana, P.M.O., Dias, G.F., Bonou, S.I., Ribeiro, L.D., Araujo, Y.M.L., Cavalcante, I.E., Almeida, H.A., Vi\u00e9gas, P.R.A., and Melo, A.S. (2025). Chitosan mitigates water stress in cowpea plants through modulation of growth, homeostasis, and antioxidant activities. Front. Plant Sci., 16.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2025.1591920"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oliveira, A.P.S., Melo, Y.L., Alencar, R.S., Vi\u00e9gas, P.R.A., Dias, G.F., Ferraz, R.L.S., S\u00e1, F.V.S., Dantas Neto, J., Magalh\u00e3es, I.D., and Gheyi, H.R. (2023). Osmoregulatory and antioxidant modulation by salicylic acid and methionine in cowpea plants under water restriction. Plants, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants12061341"},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"e8599","article-title":"Production and biochemical responses of cowpea under thermal and water stress","volume":"16","author":"Barros","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Cienc. Agrar."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1520","DOI":"10.1111\/jam.15658","article-title":"Bacillus aryabhattai enhanced proline content, stabilized membrane and improved growth of cowpea under NaCl-induced salinity stress","volume":"133","author":"Abiala","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Appl. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e273777","DOI":"10.1590\/1519-6984.273777","article-title":"Growth and production of cowpea beans under potassium doses in soil of cerrado in Amap\u00e1, Brazil","volume":"83","author":"Costa","year":"2023","journal-title":"Braz. J. Biol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sun, Y., Wang, C., Chen, H.Y.H., and Ruan, H. (2020). Response of plants to water stress: A meta-analysis. Front. Plant Sci., 11.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2020.00978"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"690","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-00690-3","article-title":"Synergistic effect of ammonium and potassium on carrot growth, physio-biochemical mechanisms, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation regimes","volume":"15","author":"Elshamly","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jayawardhane, J., Goyali, J.C., Zafari, S., and Igamberdiev, A.U. (2022). The response of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants to three abiotic stresses applied with increasing intensity: Hypoxia, salinity, and water deficit. Metabolites, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo12010038"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ullah, A., Ali, M., Shahzad, K., Ahmad, F., Iqbal, S., Rhaman, M.H.U., Ahmad, S., Iqbal, M.M., Danish, S., and Fahad, S. (2020). Impact of seed dressing and soil application of potassium humate on cotton plants productivity and fiber quality. Plants, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants9111444"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e4208","DOI":"10.5039\/agraria.v20i3a4208","article-title":"Use of Bacillus aryabhattai in the agronomic performance of green maize under irrigation depths","volume":"20","author":"Gomes","year":"2025","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Cienc. Agrar."},{"key":"ref_53","first-page":"e19120","article-title":"Bacillus aryabhattai and silicon modulate soil biological activity and performance of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia under water deficit","volume":"57","author":"Mota","year":"2026","journal-title":"Braz. J. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"Teixeira, P.C., Donagemma, G.K., Fontana, A., and Teixeira, W.G. (2017). Manual de M\u00e9todos de An\u00e1lise de Solo, Embrapa. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.4025\/actasciagron.v31i3.585","article-title":"Qualidade fisiol\u00f3gica de sementes de guanxuma em influ\u00eancia do envelhecimento acelerado e da luz","volume":"31","author":"Carvalho","year":"2009","journal-title":"Acta Sci. Agron."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"751","DOI":"10.21475\/ajcs.20.14.05.p2096","article-title":"Microclimate changes, photomorphogenesis and water consumption of Moringa oleifera cuttings under different light spectrums and exogenous phytohormone concentrations","volume":"14","author":"Silva","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aust. J. Crop Sci."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.4025\/actasciagron.v33i1.9839","article-title":"Physiological traits for drought phenotyping in cotton","volume":"33","author":"Brito","year":"2011","journal-title":"Acta Sci. Agron."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"841","DOI":"10.1590\/1807-1929\/agriambi.v19n9p841-848","article-title":"Photosynthetic pigments, cell extrusion and relative leaf water content of the castor bean under silicon and salinity","volume":"19","author":"Ferraz","year":"2015","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Eng. Agr\u00edc. Ambient."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/0003-9861(68)90654-1","article-title":"Photoperoxidation in isolated chloroplasts. I. Kinetics and stoichiometry of fatty acid peroxidation","volume":"125","author":"Heath","year":"1968","journal-title":"Arch. Biochem. Biophys."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1016\/0003-2697(71)90370-8","article-title":"Superoxide dismutase: Improved assays and an assay applicable to acrylamide gels","volume":"44","author":"Beauchamp","year":"1971","journal-title":"Anal. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"613","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-9452(01)00450-2","article-title":"Changes in the antioxidant enzyme efficacy in two high yielding genotypes of mulberry (Morus alba L.) under NaCl salinity","volume":"161","author":"Sudhakar","year":"2001","journal-title":"Plant Sci."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.pcp.a076232","article-title":"Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidases in spinach chloroplasts","volume":"22","author":"Nakano","year":"1981","journal-title":"Plant Cell Physiol."},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1016\/S0034-4257(02)00010-X","article-title":"Relationships between leaf pigment content and spectral reflectance across a wide range of species, leaf structures and developmental stages","volume":"81","author":"Sims","year":"2002","journal-title":"Remote Sens. Environ."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.1016\/0003-2697(76)90527-3","article-title":"A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding","volume":"72","author":"Bradford","year":"1976","journal-title":"Anal. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00018060","article-title":"Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies","volume":"39","author":"Bates","year":"1973","journal-title":"Plant Soil"},{"key":"ref_66","unstructured":"Bezerra Neto, E., and Barreto, L.P.N. (2011). An\u00e1lises Qu\u00edmicas e Bioqu\u00edmicas em Plantas, UFRPE. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1042\/bj0570508","article-title":"The estimation of carbohydrates in plant extracts by anthrone","volume":"57","author":"Yemm","year":"1954","journal-title":"Biochem. J."},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1093\/biomet\/52.3-4.591","article-title":"An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples)","volume":"52","author":"Shapiro","year":"1965","journal-title":"Biometrika"},{"key":"ref_69","first-page":"529","article-title":"SISVAR: A computer analysis system to fixed effects split plot type designs","volume":"37","author":"Ferreira","year":"2019","journal-title":"Braz. J. Biom."}],"container-title":["Plants"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/15\/17\/2629\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,30]],"date-time":"2026-08-30T04:25:49Z","timestamp":1788063949000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/15\/17\/2629"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]]},"references-count":69,"journal-issue":{"issue":"17","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["plants15172629"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/plants15172629","relation":{},"ISSN":["2223-7747"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2223-7747","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]]}}}