Biostimulants: Potential and Prospects in Agriculture

Abstract

In the last thirty years, numerous scientific revolutions have been planned to improve the ecological balance of agricultural production methods, via a considerable decrease of inorganic compounds like pesticides, synthetic plant growth hormones and fertilizers. A favorable and environment sustainable modernization should be the practice of normal plant biostimulants (PBs) which augment flowering, plant evolution, fruit formation, crop output and efficient nutrient mobilization, and ability to endure a varied array of abiotic stressors. PBs was primarily deciphered via exclusive of various functions similar to fertilizers or plant protection by-products. They are assorted constituents and microbes resorted to boost plant development. This review aimed to present the plant biostimulants definition, major classifications, and impacts on floras, soil and ecology.

Biostimulants to Improved Tree Physiology and Fruit Quality: A Review with Special Focus on Sweet Cherry

“…Chitosan postharvest application prevents decay during storage, delays microbial infection, and extends fruits storability [59]. Chitosan proteome and transcriptome changes caused after application of chitosan to plants [60] show its effect in the development regulation [25], and evidence shows that it may also directly control gene expression particularly those linked to the activation of plant defense signaling pathways [61,62].…”

“…They can be found in soils and plants in different insoluble forms or inorganic salts, ionic compounds composed of negatively charged anions and positively charged cations [64], including phosphites, phosphonates, bicarbonates, silicates, sulfates, and nitrates [25,28]. Although their mode of action is not completely understood yet, these compounds are able to promote plant growth, quality of plant products, and tolerance to abiotic stress by several mechanisms, including the rigidification of cell wall, osmoregulation, reduction of transpiration, radiation reflection leading to thermal regulation, enzyme activity, plant nutrition, antioxidant protection, interactions with symbionts, responses to pathogens and herbivores, heavy metals toxicity protection or synthesis, and signaling of plant hormone [62,63]. These compounds-inorganic salts-have been used against fungal diseases, as they have some important advantages, including their low cost, reduced impact on the environment, and low mammalian toxicity [64,65].…”

Role of biostimulants in mitigating the effects of climate change on crop performance

“…BSts can be applied to crops through foliar fertilization, fertigation, or direct soil application, which enhances crop growth and development, and also crop quality (Van Oosten et al, 2017). Their vital functions are akin to fertilizers or byproducts of plant protection which are an array of diverse microorganisms and components used to promote plant growth and development (Bhupenchandra et al, 2020). Recently, Lau et al (2022) elaborated on the practical aspect of plant BSts and microbiome bioengineering on crop improvement and stress mitigation.…”

“…Biostimulants (BSts) could be a promising tool in the current crop production scenario. BSt is a compound or mixture of various organic compounds of natural origin that can promote plant growth under various environmental stresses (Bhupenchandra et al, 2020;Rouphael and Colla, 2020). According to the definition given by the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Amendment Order, 2021, the Government of India BSt means a " substance or microorganism or an amalgamation of both whose primary function is to enhance physiological processes in plants and to augment its nutrient uptake efficiency, growth, yield, quality, and tolerance to stresses.…”

Bacterial Plant Biostimulants: A Sustainable Way Towards Improving Growth, Productivity, and Health of Crops

“…A variety of living and non-living bacterial isolates like Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus safensis, Microbacterium sp., Nocardia globerula, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas fulva, Pseudoxanthomonas dajeonensis, Rhodococcus coprophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Sphingopyxis macrogoltabida, Streptomyces sp., Bifidobacterium bifidus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus sp., Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus paraplantarum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus pentosus, have been reported to increase concentrations of total carbohydrates, nutrients (magnesium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, etc. ), pigments (like chlorophyll, carotenoids)and antioxidant substances and therefore, improve plant quality, productivity, and yield[21,[83][84]. As, an example, the impact on bean common plants cultivated under water stress shows substantial enhancement in the phenolic contents of the inoculated plants of four biostimulant products having Bacillus subtilis in their formulations[84].Also, by inoculation of PGPR strain, Bacillus subtilis CBR05, the quality of tomatoes is known to get better for carotenoid profile (carotene and lycopene)[49].…”