Biostimulants Improve Bulb Yield, Concomitantly Affecting the Total Phenolics, Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Capacity of Onion (Allium cepa)

Abstract

In the pursuit of maximizing onion (Allium cepa) yield and quality, farmers often face the challenges of unfavorable ecological conditions and inadequate agronomic practices. Therefore, our two-year study investigated the effects of biostimulants (BTs) of plant growth on bulb yield and the bioactive compounds of directly seeded onion. Four treatments were applied: control (C), seaweed extracts (BT1), humic and fulvic acid (BT2), and Trichoderma spp. (BT3). The results demonstrated a significant increase in bulb yield with BT1 (↑ 18.7%), BT2 (↑ 18.0%), and BT3 (↑ 24.3%). Intriguingly, all BTs markedly reduced phenolic content across both years. Additionally, BT1 and BT3 elevated flavonoid levels (↑ 16.8% and ↑ 16.7%, respectively), while BT2 decreased them (↓ 24.2%). Notably, in 2021, DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS tests indicated a significant reduction in antioxidant capacity compared to C. Our study underscores the important role of BTs in enhancing yield, influencing secondary metabolites and contributing to environmental sustainability in onion cultivation.