--- title: University of Kentucky Research Shows Microbially Derived Product Can Increase Plant Flavonoid and Lignin Content description: A University of Kentucky study demonstrates that SoilBuilder can increase production of secondary metabolites (flavonoid and lignin) in plants. --- [![Logo](https://blog.agricen.com/hubfs/Agricen_logo_300px.png) ](https://www.agricen.com/) - [COMPANY](https://www.agricen.com/plant-health-technology-company) - [About Us](https://www.agricen.com/plant-health-technology-company) - [Our History](https://www.agricen.com/agricen-history-plant-health-technology) - [Our Team](https://www.agricen.com/meet-agricen-team-agriculture-experts) - [Sister Companies](https://www.agricen.com/agricen-sciences-and-agricen-australia) - [Press Releases](https://www.agricen.com/press-releases/) - [Media Coverage](https://www.agricen.com/media-coverage) - [Contact](https://www.agricen.com/contact-agricen-plant-health-tech-company) - [TECHNOLOGIES](https://www.agricen.com/agriculture-sustainable-plant-health-technologies) - 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[Webinars](https://www.agricen.com/webinars-on-demand) - [FAQs](https://knowledge.agricen.com/faq) - [Blog Sign Up](https://info.agricen.com/agricen-agriculture-blog) - [BLOG](https://blog.agricen.com/blog) ## April 15, 2014 # University of Kentucky Research Shows Microbially Derived Product Can Increase Plant Flavonoid and Lignin Content [Tweet ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=University%20of%20Kentucky%20Research%20Shows%20Microbially%20Derived%20Product%20Can%20Increase%20Plant%20Flavonoid%20and%20Lignin%20Content%0Ahttps://blog.agricen.com/blog/university-of-kentucky-research-shows-microbial-product-can-increase-plant-flavonoid-and-lignin-content) [Share ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.agricen.com/blog/university-of-kentucky-research-shows-microbial-product-can-increase-plant-flavonoid-and-lignin-content&title=University%20of%20Kentucky%20Research%20Shows%20Microbially%20Derived%20Product%20Can%20Increase%20Plant%20Flavonoid%20and%20Lignin%20Content&summary=&source=) [Like ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.agricen.com/blog/university-of-kentucky-research-shows-microbial-product-can-increase-plant-flavonoid-and-lignin-content) ![University of Kentucky Blog Image](https://blog.agricen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/University%20of%20Kentucky%20Blog%20Image.png?width=352&height=233&name=University%20of%20Kentucky%20Blog%20Image.png)A study published in *BMC Plant Biology* demonstrated that [SoilBuilder](https://www.agricen.com/products/soilbuilder), a microbially derived soil additive, can increase the production of secondary metabolites in plants. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Kentucky, investigated how [SoilBuilder](https://www.agricen.com/products/soilbuilder) application and timing of application (single or multiple times) influenced secondary metabolic responses by monitoring changes in the phenlypropanoid (PP) pathway in *Arabidopsis thaliana. *Quantitative real-time PCR was used for transcriptional profiling of flavonoid and lignin pathway genes, and high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry were used to determine flavonoid content. The results showed that application of [SoilBuilder](https://www.agricen.com/products/soilbuilder) induced the phenlypropanoid pathway and there was a different response to treatment that was dependent on application timing. However, both single application and multiple applications of the microbial-derived product [induced flavonoid and lignin content](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4021374/) in *Arabidopsis* leaves compared to an untreated control. **You can read the full study [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4021374/). ****Citation:** Ali MB, McNear DH Jr. [Induced transcriptional profiling of phenylpropanoid pathway genes increased flavonoid and lignin content in Arabidopsis leaves in response to microbial products](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4021374/). *BMC Plant Biol*. 2014 Apr 1;14:84. doi: 10.1186/1471-2229-14-84. #### Listen to the Blog Post ### Topics: [Ag Biologicals/Biostimulants](https://blog.agricen.com/blog/topic/ag-biologicals-biostimulants#blog-listing) ### Subscribe to Email Updates [ Watch Agricen’s Featured Videos ](https://blog.agricen.com/blog/university-of-kentucky-research-shows-microbial-product-can-increase-plant-flavonoid-and-lignin-content#!) ![Blog-videos-thumb](https://blog.agricen.com/hubfs/Blog-videos-thumb.jpg) ### Sign Up for Agricen’s Blog to stay up to date on the latest news. 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