Production of a carob enzymatic extract: Potential use as a biofertilizer

Agricultural uses of plant biostimulants

“…Tomato plants fertilized with Siapton or with a carob germ hydrolysate showed increased plant height and number of flowers per plant compared to the control while only those fertilized with carob germ hydrolysate showed enhanced numbers of fruit per plant after 18 weeks growth in a greenhouse (Parrado et al 2008). (Koukounararas et al 2013) reported recently that application of Amino16 R , a protein hydrolysate containing 11.3 % Lamino acids, to greenhouse tomatoes under varying fertilization levels increased fruit yield and this was associated with increased fruit number or weight depending on the degree of fertilization.…”

“…Protein hydrolysates are prepared by enzymatic, chemical or thermal hydrolysis of a variety of animal and plant residues, including animal epithelial or connective tissues (Cavani et al 2006;Ertani et al 2009Ertani et al , 2013aGrabowska et al 2012;Kauffman et al 2007;Kunicki et al 2010;Maini 2006;Morales-Payan and Stall 2003), animal collagen and elastine (Cavani et al 2006), carob germ protein (Parrado et al 2008), alfalfa residue (Schiavon et al 2008;Ertani et al 2009Ertani et al , 2013b, wheat-condensed distiller solubles (García-Martínez et al 2010 Protein/peptide and free amino acid contents of the hydrolysates vary in these preparations in the range of 1-85 % (w/w) and 2-18 % (w/w), respectively. The major amino acids include alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, glutamate, glutamine, valine and leucine (Parrado et al 2008;Ertani et al 2009;García-Martínez et al 2010). Siapton contains a high proportion of proline and glycine while in carob germ hydrolysate glutamine and arginine predominate (Parrado et al 2008).…”

“…The major amino acids include alanine, arginine, glycine, proline, glutamate, glutamine, valine and leucine (Parrado et al 2008;Ertani et al 2009;García-Martínez et al 2010). Siapton contains a high proportion of proline and glycine while in carob germ hydrolysate glutamine and arginine predominate (Parrado et al 2008). Other non-protein components present in these hydrolysates may also contribute to the stimulatory effects on plants.…”

“…Other non-protein components present in these hydrolysates may also contribute to the stimulatory effects on plants. For example, in addition to proteins, peptides and free amino acids, carob germ extract hydrolysate contained fats, carbohydrates, macro and micronutrient elements and at least six phytohormones, while an animal-based product, Siapton had a similar profile of proteins, amino acids, fats and macro and micronutrients, but lacked carbohydrates and phytohormones (Parrado et al 2008). An alfalfa hydrolysate was high in free amino acids (1.9 % w/w) and also contained macro and micronutrient elements and auxin-and gibberellin-like activities based on a bioassay (Schiavon et al 2008).…”

Effects of Enzymatic Biofertiliser on Growth and Yield of Lentil Genotypes under Deficit Irrigation/ Enzimatisko Biomçslojumu Ietekme Uz Daþâdu Lçcu Genotipu Augðanu Un Raþu Irigâcijas Trûkuma Apstâkïos

“…Limited effectiveness of biofertiliser based on enzymes or growth regulators is probably caused by inappropriate environmental conditions (Ryan et al, 1985;Zhu et al, 2012). Parrado et al, (2008) produced a water-soluble enzymatic hydrolyzate extract from proteinic vegetable by-products and employed it as a biofertiliser on tomato plants (Licopericon pimpinellifolium cv. Momotaro).…”