Biostimulants in Agriculture

Editorial: Beneficial elements: novel players in plant biology for innovative crop production, volume II

“…In most modern societies, people are more aware of the impacts of agriculture on the environment, the value of nutraceutical foods to human health and the need to mitigate the effects of climate change on the global scenario. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop and implement a more efficient and effective use of the so-called “green chemicals” ( Bhandari and Kasana, 2018 ; Fenibo et al., 2021 ; Ganesh et al., 2021 ), so that agricultural activities can cope with the increasing frequency of adverse environmental conditions for crop growth and productivity ( Rouphael and Colla, 2020 ). In the coming years, the biostimulant market’s dynamics will be influenced by a more expanded regulatory framework, with beneficial elements playing a pivotal role in boosting or complementing the effects of other biostimulants such as amino acids, seaweed extracts and biofertilizers to achieve a modern and innovative crop production system worldwide.…”

“…Although a consensual definition and the scope of a plant biostimulant are still being discussed, it is accepted that this technical term includes beneficial substances, microorganisms, or both, whose function when applied to plants or to soil is to boost natural processes to enhance or benefit physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms in terms of growth and development; nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency; tolerance to abiotic stress; and crop yield and quality ( de Vasconcelos and Chaves, 2019 ; Rouphael and Colla, 2020 ; Juárez-Maldonado et al., 2021 ; Garza-Alonso et al., 2022 ). Plant biostimulants may be chemical or biological in origin, and the chemicals may be natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic ( Colla and Rouphael, 2015 ; du Jardin, 2015 ).…”

Copper boosts the biostimulant activity of a vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate in basil: morpho-physiological and metabolomics insights

“…The necessary shift towards sustainable agricultural systems has highlighted the potential of innovative technical solutions, such as plant-based biostimulants. These latter can increase nutrient use efficiency and improve crop productivity and quality ( Rouphael and Colla, 2020 ). The ability to produce biostimulants from plant waste has made vegetal protein hydrolysate (VPH) one of the most promising products ( Xu and Geelen, 2018 ).…”

Design of a hydroponic test to evaluate the biostimulant potential of new organic and organomineral products

“…Briefly, humic substances can improve the growth and physiology of the plant, since several hormones have been identified in the structure of humus (Pizzeghello et al, 2013). Although this hormone-like activity is still not well understood, it appears that the addition of humic biostimulants produces the bioactivation of soil bacteria and fungi (Rouphael and Colla, 2020). They also increase their biostimulant potential when they are added with other biostimulants such as algae extracts (do Rosário Rosa et al, 2021).…”