Effect of the Foliar Application of Microalgae Hydrolysate (Arthrospira platensis) and Silicon on the Growth of Pelargonium hortorum L.H. Bailey under Salinity Conditions

Abstract

Plant growth is limited by salinity stress. There are few strategies for alleviating it although Arthrospira platensis and silicon can stimulate plants to grow under stress conditions. The aim of this work was to study the effects of both a single and a joint application of Arthrospira platensis and silicon on the growth of Pelargonium hortorum L.H. Bailey under salt stress conditions. Plants were exposed to 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 dS m−1 EC (electrical conductivity), with and without the application of microalgae and silicon. At the end of the trial, the biometric parameters and the plant analysis were determined. The microalgae hydrolysate concentration was 5 g L−1 and the silicon concentration was 150 mg L−1. Foliar spraying was applied weekly. Pelargonium can be grown in moderately saline irrigation water (3.0 dS m−1). This bedding plant mitigates salt stress by avoiding the uptake of Cl− ions and by tolerating a high Na+ concentration in the tissue. The joint foliar application of Arthrospira microalgae and silicon stimulates root, shoot, leaf, and flower formation in the Pelargonium hortorum L.H. Bailey crop under salinity conditions (3.5 dS m−1).

Effect of the Application Date of Fertilizer Containing Silicon and Potassium on the Yield and Technological Quality of Sugar Beet Roots

“…It also increases the plant's tolerance to drought [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], high and low temperature [14,[25][26][27], shading [28], flooding with water [14], and deficiency of macro-and micro-nutrients [29][30][31]. Silicon can also reduce the harmful effects of soil salinity, which can be severe problem in some regions [4,[32][33][34][35]. Moreover, silicon can reduce the negative impact of heavy metals on plants [36][37][38].…”

Microalgae-Based Biotechnology as Alternative Biofertilizers for Soil Enhancement and Carbon Footprint Reduction: Advantages and Implications

“…In the practice of foliar supplementation, extracts, hydrolysates, and wet biomass of microalgae are common presentations [ 102 , 111 , 112 ]. A Vigna mungo seed was primed with Spirulina platensis extract, in this study, the main interest was not the growth increase but preventing the deterioration of the seed and improving the effective germination after aging [ 112 ].…”

“…A Vigna mungo seed was primed with Spirulina platensis extract, in this study, the main interest was not the growth increase but preventing the deterioration of the seed and improving the effective germination after aging [ 112 ]. Tejada-Ruiz et al [ 111 ] evaluated the effect of a foliar hydrolysate from Arthrospira platensis (the content of cytokinins 2752, gibberellins 56.24, indoleacetic acid 10.3 ABA 1.03, salicylic acid 0.61, and jasmonic acid 0.84 ng/g) and silicon on the growth of Pelagonium hortum . In this study, the combination of potassium silicate improved the plant’s general growth, especially the number of flowers as a remarkable parameter since P. hortum is an ornamental plant.…”

Cyanobacteria as a Valuable Natural Resource for Improved Agriculture, Environment, and Plant Protection

“…In the same context, A. platensis aqueous extract has been shown to contain a high amount of phytohormones like jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and cytokinins, which participate in plant response to abiotic stresses (Tejada-Ruiz et al 2020 ). Interestingly, the presence of salicylic acid, a vital signaling molecule responsible for the stimulation of defense responses in plants, was identified in the extracts of 28 cyanobacterial strains (Toribio et al 2020 ).…”