Biostimulation as a Means for Optimizing Fruit Phytochemical Content and Functional Quality of Tomato Landraces of the San Marzano Area

Abstract

The effect of plant biostimulation on fruits of traditional tomato germplasm is largely unknown. We examined how a tropical plant-derived biostimulant impacts the nutritional, functional, and compositional characteristics of tomato fruits from four landraces, collected in the San Marzano (SM) tomato Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) region, by profiling primary and secondary metabolites. Biostimulation was not able to completely reshuffle the morpho-physiological and nutritional profile of the four landraces. Their distinct phytochemical profile indicated a genotype-specific tuning of the analyzed traits, which also included an improved yield and fruit quality. Biostimulation of SM1 and SM3 increased photosynthetic accumulation of carbohydrate reserves, improved mineral nutrient use efficiency and consequently, yield (+21% and 34%, respectively). Moreover, biostimulation augmented the nutraceutical properties of the SM2 landrace. Interestingly, the plant-derived product increased in all genotypes lycopene, but not polyphenol accumulation in fruits. Our results show the potential of biostimulatory applications towards optimizing the fruit quality of the acclaimed SM landraces, which is suitable to satisfy both the rising consumer demand for premium traditional tomatoes and the technological needs of the food industry.

Plant-Derived Biostimulants Differentially Modulate Primary and Secondary Metabolites and Improve the Yield Potential of Red and Green Lettuce Cultivars

“…Similarly to Trainer ® , Auxym ® application is clearly involved in the expression of genes responsible for the absorption of certain nutrients. For example, an increase in Mg and K content has recently been demonstrated for tomato plants treated with Auxym ® [37]. The authors emphasized the importance of this result, because the use of Auxym ® would reduce the contribution of K as a fertilizer since it is one of the main elements required for tomato cultivation.…”

“…The authors found a correlation between the better performance of the treated plants with an increase in photosynthetic activity and nitrogen metabolism. The use of Auxym ® on four tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) landraces [37] showed that it increased the yield of two landraces by 21% and 35%, compared to untreated plants. Ertani et al [12] examined the response of Capsicum chinensis L. plants to two biostimulants, one obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis of Medicago sativa L. plants (AH), and another one obtained from cool extraction of the red grape skin of Vitis vinifera L (RG).…”

“…The latter is crucial because it could enable us to bio-enhance commercial cultivars in which the low concentrations of certain minemals beneficial for human health can be determined genetically and not by other exogenous factors. That was also one of the main reasons that originally led to the examination of biostimulants as a potential tool for the bio-enhancement of edible plant parts (leaves, fruits) with minerals that are considered essential for sustaining human health [37,39].…”

Nutrient Solution Deprivation as a Tool to Improve Hydroponics Sustainability: Yield, Physiological, and Qualitative Response of Lettuce

“…A UV-VIS spectrophotometry (Hach DR 4000, Hach CO., Loveland, CO, USA) with an absorbance of 765 and 525 nm, respectively, was used to determine total phenols and total ascorbic acid, and the results were expressed as mg gallic acid equivalent 100 g −1 dw and mg 100 g −1 fw, respectively. Total anthocyanin analysis was performed according to Rouphael et al [33] by suspending 20 mg lyophilized leaf samples in 180 µL of 40% (v/v) ethyl alcohol and incubating it on ice for 20 min. After 14,000 rpm centrifugation for 10 min, the pellet was re-extracted in 180 µL of 40% (v/v) ethyl alcohol, and the two supernatants joined.…”

Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety

“…In order to meet the rising demand for products, a range of methods are being explored to increase crop yield and production. Biostimulation is one such technique, and Rouphael et al [ 6 ] explore the effect of plant biostimulation on fruits of the traditional tomato germplasm, which has been largely unexplored until now. They investigated how a tropical plant-derived biostimulant influenced the nutritional, functional, and compositional characteristics of tomato fruits, by profiling primary and secondary metabolites in the fruit.…”