Effect of biostimulants and bioactivators on reproductive parameters of Daucus carota (L.)

Abstract

Daucus carota L. (carrot) belongs to the Apiaceae family. Every year, tons of carrots are produced for national consumption and export, and Brazil is one of the largest producers of this vegetable. This study aimed to evaluate biostimulants and bioactivators inoculated in D. carota seeds and verify post-harvest morphological attributes for root length and diameter, fresh and dry mass of carrot root. The experiment was carried out in the field in full sun using pots. Daucus carota seeds were inoculated with 1.5 mL/kg seed-1 and grown in fertilized soil. After the reproduction period, carrots were collected during the commercial maturity period, and analyses were carried out in the laboratory. The results demonstrated that ST Pro and Stingray biostimulants applied had a positive effect on the root length parameter with average values of 20.7 and 21.1 cm, for root diameter Stingray demonstrated a difference between the other biological products with an average of 3.1 cm, for ST fresh mass Pro and Stingray presented average values of 91.0 and 91.8 g and for dry mass with an average of 10.1 g for ST Pro. The applied biostimulants demonstrated a positive effect, however, the Biozyme bioactivation did not demonstrate gains in any of the post-harvest parameters for the carrot cultivar ‘BRS Planalto’.