Biopriming with Seaweed Extract and Microbial-Based Commercial Biostimulants Influences Seed Germination of Five Abelmoschus esculentus Genotypes

Abstract

Seed germination is a crucial step in plant propagation, as it controls seedling production, stand establishment and ultimately crop yield. Approaches that can promote seed germination of valuable crops remain of great interest globally. The current study evaluated the effect of biostimulant (Kelpak® and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria—PGPR) biopriming on the seed germination of five (VI037996, VI046567, VI055421, VI050956, and VI033796) Abelmoschus esculentus genotypes. The germination responses of the bio-primed seeds were measured using six parameters, including final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), germination rate index (GRI), and time spread of germination (TSG). Biostimulant application significantly affected MGT (1.1–2.2 days), CVG (1.4–5.9), and TSG (1.2–3.0 days). Genotype also significantly influenced the TSG (1–3 days). Significant interaction effect of biostimulant treatment and genotype was evident on the FGP, GI, and GRI of the germinated seeds. The most noteworthy effect was demonstrated by Kelpak® (1:100) applied to genotype VI037996, with significantly improved FGP (82%), GI (238), and GRI (77%/day) when compared to the control. Overall, the current findings suggest the potential stimulatory effect of biostimulants (especially Kelpak®) on the germination of Abelmoschus esculentus seeds. However, this influence was strongly dependent on the type of genotype.

Different Responses to Adventitious Rhizogenesis under Indole-3-Butyric Acid and Seaweed Extracts in Ornamental’s Cuttings: First Results in Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’

“…Based on these findings, the overall development and morphology of Photinia cuttings treated with Kelpak ® and Goteo ® were inhibited. Seaweed extracts often stimulate and accelerate cell division, elongation, differentiation and protein synthesis [37,92]; Makhaye et al [93] have verified the potential stimulatory effect of biostimulants (especially Kelpak ® ) on the germination of A. esculentus seeds. Seaweed extracts often stimulate and accelerate cell division, elongation, differentiation and protein synthesis [37,92]; Makhaye et al [93] have verified the potential stimulatory effect of biostimulants (especially Kelpak ® ) on the germination of A. esculentus seeds.…”

“…Seaweed extracts often stimulate and accelerate cell division, elongation, differentiation and protein synthesis [37,92]; Makhaye et al [93] have verified the potential stimulatory effect of biostimulants (especially Kelpak ® ) on the germination of A. esculentus seeds. Seaweed extracts often stimulate and accelerate cell division, elongation, differentiation and protein synthesis [37,92]; Makhaye et al [93] have verified the potential stimulatory effect of biostimulants (especially Kelpak ® ) on the germination of A. esculentus seeds. The application of biostimulants based on seaweed extracts in our experiment did not positively influence the number of leaves, chlorophyll index (SPAD) and leaf area index (Table 7).…”

Exogenous Application of Biostimulants and Synthetic Growth Promoters Improved the Productivity and Grain Quality of Quinoa Linked with Enhanced Photosynthetic Pigments and Metabolomics

“…Plant growth promoters (PGP) stimulate various physiochemical processes, which have a positive effect on economic yield and seed quality as well as increased tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses [14,18]. Moreover, exogenous use of plant growth promoters improves seed germination [19][20][21] and plant growth [22,23], delays senescence [24], enhances root biomass [25,26] for mineral absorption, and hence increases seed quality [27,28] and quantity [29,30]. Hassanein et al [31] reports that the addition of nano zinc fertilization at low concentrations combined with biostimulants, especially seaweed and moringa extracts, is an effective alternative to regular fertilization methods and contributes to the sustainable development of horticultural crops [32,33].…”

Oxidative Stress, Ageing and Methods of Seed Invigoration: An Overview and Perspectives

“…In addition to improving plant tolerance against several abiotic stressors, this eco-friendly innovation enhances nutrient use efficiency, plant growth, and crop productivity [267]. The stimulatory effects of plant biostimulants, such as smoke-water on Sceletium tortuosum seeds [268], karrikinolide on Lactuca sativa [269] and Aristolochia debilis [270] seeds, commercial brown seaweed extract (Kelpak ® ) on Abelmoschus esculentus [271] and Ceratotheca triloba [272] seeds, and yeast extract on Oryza sativa seeds [273], have been reported.…”