Universal Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 11(2), pp. 371 - 379
DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2023.110214
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Evaluation of the Efficiency of Vermicompost Prepared from Coffee Processing Waste on Coffee Seedlings- A Morphological Cum Molecular Study

Lalitha Soumya ^1,*, G. Prakash Williams ², D. Naveen Chandra ³, Soonu ^1
1 Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Thalassery, Palayad, Kannur University, Dr. Janaki Ammal Campus, Kannur, Kerala, Pin-670661, India
² Department of Botany and Biotechnology, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Alappuzha, Kerala, Pin-690110, India
³ Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri Campus, Mangalore, Pin- 574199, India

ABSTRACT

Coffee processing units generate a huge amount of solid waste such as coffee husk and coffee pulp. Waste disposal is a major concern in coffee producing countries. The easiest way is to keep it as landfill. But this leads to leaching of phytotoxic chemicals like caffeine, tannins, and polyphenols. These chemicals will contaminate the soil, reduce the population of useful microorganism and cause ecotoxicological problems. Therefore, we prepared vermicompost using this waste. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficiency of the vermicompost on the growth of coffee seedlings. The seedlings were grown on different concentrations of vermicompost and their growth rates were measured at 3 months intervals continuously for a period of 2 years. The phytotoxic chemicals present in the coffee waste were decreased significantly after vermicomposting. We tested different concentrations of vermicompost mixed with conventional potting mixture and the seedlings were grown. Seedlings grown on soil contaminated with raw coffee waste were taken as control. One of the prominent growth characteristics, the shoot length was taken as a criterion for morphological studies. The result showed that 40% of the vermicompost amendment gave significant growth in seedlings compared to those grown in the presence of the conventional potting mixture. Molecular studies including transcriptome sequencing were done to check the genes involved in the enhanced growth of the coffee seedling. Seedlings, which are grown on conventional potting mixture, were taken as a control and those grown at 40% vermicompost were taken as a test. The vermicompost-treated sample had a 20-fold increase in the genetic level expression of several proteins, including DNA replication licensing factors and minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCM) according to the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment pathway. MCM proteins are essential for DNA replication. Seedlings grown in the presence of soil contaminated with raw coffee waste exhibited senescence. So we concluded that instead of keeping the coffee waste as landfills, recycling it as vermicompost and amending it as potting mixture for the growth of coffee seedlings is a novel idea.

KEYWORDS
Coffee Processing Waste, Vermicompost, Chandragiri Seedling, Morphological Study, Molecular Study

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Lalitha Soumya , G. Prakash Williams , D. Naveen Chandra , Soonu , "Evaluation of the Efficiency of Vermicompost Prepared from Coffee Processing Waste on Coffee Seedlings- A Morphological Cum Molecular Study," Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 371 - 379, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2023.110214.

(b). APA Format:
Lalitha Soumya , G. Prakash Williams , D. Naveen Chandra , Soonu (2023). Evaluation of the Efficiency of Vermicompost Prepared from Coffee Processing Waste on Coffee Seedlings- A Morphological Cum Molecular Study. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(2), 371 - 379. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2023.110214.