Lettuce seedlings often require the use of fertilizers for their cultivation management to achieve appropriate yield. However, for eco-sustainable chemical-fertilizers-free agronomy, the implementation of totally organic farming often cannot support lettuce productivity, therefore new natural biostimulants able to increase lettuce yield could be considered of great interest. In this preliminary work, the foliar spray application of a Chlorella vulgaris extract in lettuce seedlings was investigated in order to achieve better yield performance. Its biostimulant effect was evaluated by monitoring the morphobiometric parameters, chlorophylls, carotenoids, total protein contents, and several enzymatic activities involved in primary and secondary metabolisms of the plant. The experimental trials were carried out by growing lettuce seedlings on inert substrate (pumice) with a 16 h photoperiod for 21 days. The treatment consisted of three consecutive applications by foliar spraying using a concentration of the C. vulgaris extract, corresponding to 1 mg Corg L-1, which were performed one week apart. The results showed that the C. vulgaris extract positively influenced the growth of lettuce seedlings, by increasing the fresh and dry weights, chlorophylls, carotenoids, protein content, and ashes at shoot level. From a biochemical point of view, primary and secondary metabolisms of shoots, in particular nitrogen metabolism, were positively influenced. At the root level, the extract increased dry matter, proteins, and ash content.

Foliar spray application of chlorella vulgaris extract: Effect on the growth of lettuce seedlings

Baglieri A.
;
Rovetto E. I.;Puglisi I.
2021-01-01

Abstract

Lettuce seedlings often require the use of fertilizers for their cultivation management to achieve appropriate yield. However, for eco-sustainable chemical-fertilizers-free agronomy, the implementation of totally organic farming often cannot support lettuce productivity, therefore new natural biostimulants able to increase lettuce yield could be considered of great interest. In this preliminary work, the foliar spray application of a Chlorella vulgaris extract in lettuce seedlings was investigated in order to achieve better yield performance. Its biostimulant effect was evaluated by monitoring the morphobiometric parameters, chlorophylls, carotenoids, total protein contents, and several enzymatic activities involved in primary and secondary metabolisms of the plant. The experimental trials were carried out by growing lettuce seedlings on inert substrate (pumice) with a 16 h photoperiod for 21 days. The treatment consisted of three consecutive applications by foliar spraying using a concentration of the C. vulgaris extract, corresponding to 1 mg Corg L-1, which were performed one week apart. The results showed that the C. vulgaris extract positively influenced the growth of lettuce seedlings, by increasing the fresh and dry weights, chlorophylls, carotenoids, protein content, and ashes at shoot level. From a biochemical point of view, primary and secondary metabolisms of shoots, in particular nitrogen metabolism, were positively influenced. At the root level, the extract increased dry matter, proteins, and ash content.
2021
Chlorophylls
Citrate synthase
Glutamate synthase
Glutamine synthetase
Malate dehydrogenase
Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
agronomy-11-00308-v2.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Dimensione 679.78 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
679.78 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/510465
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 18
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 15
social impact