Alfalfa plant-derived biostimulant stimulate short-term growth of salt stressed Zea mays L. plants

Agricultural uses of plant biostimulants

“…Increased gene expression of the three TCA cycle enzymes, nitrate reductase and asparagine synthetase was confirmed by RT-PCR in the roots following application of alfalfa hydrolysate. (Ertani et al 2013b) reported similar effects of a meat hydrolysate. These data suggest that protein hydrolysates may promote nitrogen assimilation in plants via coordinated regulation of C and N metabolism.…”

“…(Kunicki et al 2010) and Gajc-Wolska et al (2012) found no effect of Aminoplant (Siapton) on yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and endive (Chicorium pumilum), respectively, in field trials and (Grabowska et al 2012) showed an effect on carrot (Daucus carota) yield only for one variety in one year of three years of field trials and soluble sugars and carotenoids increased and nitrate content decreased in Aminoplant-treated carrot roots relative to the control in one year of two field trials. An alfalfa hydrolysate increased leaf growth, foliar sugar content and decreased nitrate content of hydroponically-grown maize plants (Schiavon et al 2008) and in more recent studies, enhanced short-term growth of hydroponically-grown maize in the absence and presence of salt stress (NaCl) (Ertani et al 2013b). It also increased K + content of leaves in the absence of NaCl and in the presence of NaCl, enhanced Na + and decreased K + contents in roots and leaves (Ertani et al 2013b).…”

“…An alfalfa hydrolysate increased leaf growth, foliar sugar content and decreased nitrate content of hydroponically-grown maize plants (Schiavon et al 2008) and in more recent studies, enhanced short-term growth of hydroponically-grown maize in the absence and presence of salt stress (NaCl) (Ertani et al 2013b). It also increased K + content of leaves in the absence of NaCl and in the presence of NaCl, enhanced Na + and decreased K + contents in roots and leaves (Ertani et al 2013b). Similarly, a meat hydrolysate derived from tanning residues increased short-term growth and micro-element content and decreased nitrate, phosphate and sulfate content of hydroponically grown maize seedlings (Ertani et al 2013a).…”

“…Protein hydrolysates are prepared by enzymatic, chemical or thermal hydrolysis of a variety of animal and plant residues, including animal epithelial or connective tissues (Cavani et al 2006;Ertani et al 2009Ertani et al , 2013aGrabowska et al 2012;Kauffman et al 2007;Kunicki et al 2010;Maini 2006;Morales-Payan and Stall 2003), animal collagen and elastine (Cavani et al 2006), carob germ protein (Parrado et al 2008), alfalfa residue (Schiavon et al 2008;Ertani et al 2009Ertani et al , 2013b, wheat-condensed distiller solubles (García-Martínez et al 2010 Protein/peptide and free amino acid contents of the hydrolysates vary in these preparations in the range of 1-85 % (w/w) and 2-18 % (w/w), respectively. The major amino acids include alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, glutamate, glutamine, valine and leucine (Parrado et al 2008;Ertani et al 2009;García-Martínez et al 2010).…”

“…An alfalfa hydrolysate was high in free amino acids (1.9 % w/w) and also contained macro and micronutrient elements and auxin-and gibberellin-like activities based on a bioassay (Schiavon et al 2008). (Ertani et al 2013a) reported the presence of triacontanol and IAA, both plant growth regulators, in the same alfalfa hydrolysate product and endogenous IAA in a meat hydrolysate (Ertani et al 2013b). (Kauffman et al 2005;, working with Macro-Sorb Foliar, derived from the enzymatic hydrolysis of animal membranes and containing 2 % (w/v) plant available nitrogen, 21.3 % (w/v) free amino acids, peptides, nucleotides and fatty acids and 14.8 % (w/v) unknown organic matter, reported that the lipid soluble fraction of the product produced an auxin-like response in vitro equivalent to 0.07 % (v/v).…”