Evaluation of Gelatin as a Biostimulant Seed Treatment to Improve Plant Performance

Abstract

The effect of gelatin, used as a biostimulant, was investigated on plant growth in greenhouse studies. Biostimulants are materials that stimulate plant growth, and gelatin, an animal protein hydrolysate, is classified as one type of biostimulant. Gelatin has a unique amino acid composition with a high percentage of proline and hydroxyproline. In a series of experiments gelatin capsules (#3 hard gelatin) containing 7.1 mg nitrogen each, were placed adjacent to seeds of different crop species, at sowing time in individual growing containers and several growth parameters were measured. Different types of hydrolyzed collagen, including granulated gelatin, gelatin hydrolysate, and amino acid mixtures simulating the composition of gelatin were compared on cucumber plant growth. In addition, amino acid mixtures without proline, hydroxyproline, or applied in combination were investigated on cucumber growth. All capsule treatments significantly enhanced crop growth compared to the non-treated control. The treatment with two gelatin capsules placed adjacent to each seed increased shoot dry weight of cucumber, pepper, broccoli, tomato, arugula, and field corn, by 138, 244, 50, 45, 41, and 18 percent, respectively. In an experiment with cucumber alone, there was a positive linear relationship between the number of gelatin capsules from 0 to 3 capsules on plant growth and plant nitrogen content. Cucumber growth and plant nitrogen content was greater from the hydrolyzed collagen treatment compared with the low molecular weight gelatin hydrolysate, a mixture of amino acids or urea and all treatments provided an equivalent amount of nitrogen. Proline and/or hydroxyproline were not responsible for the biostimulant effect. In summary, gelatin provided nitrogen that enhanced plant growth. Moreover, gelatin was an effective biostimulant as the plant growth and nitrogen content was greater from two gelatin capsules compared to amino acid mixture of the same proportion and amount as the gelatin.

Some Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms during Seed-to-Seedling Transition in Tomato as Influenced by Garlic Allelochemicals

“…The growing interest in this area, therefore, demands research that includes both animals and plants. As the word biostimulant implicates, its function primarily involves the stimulation of plant growth and development [8,9] and/or the response to the immediate environment such as stress conditions [10,11] or phytopathogenic invasion [12]. A biostimulant may foster plant growth and development throughout the plant lifecycle from seed germination to plant maturity in a variety of ways, such as enhancing metabolism to improve yield and crop quality, interacting with nutrient assimilation and translocation, facilitating plant defense against adverse conditions, and improving quality attributes such as metabolite abundance, sugar content, fruit color, etc.…”

“…Seed priming or chemical priming, thus, seems to advance the possibility of successful germination and early seedling growth under stress situations. Previously, numerous biostimulants were introduced from both animal and plant origins [8,9,[19][20][21]. Strictly speaking, plant-derived biochemicals are used since ancient civilizations for their therapeutic influence.…”

A Seed Coating Delivery System for Bio-Based Biostimulants to Enhance Plant Growth

“…The application of biostimulants to seeds has the potential to promote plant growth at an early stage, while using low doses [5]. Previous investigations have demonstrated that seed treatments with growth regulators, micro and macronutrients, amino acids, and beneficial microbes, or other biostimulants, can enhance plant growth at the time of sowing [5][6][7][8][9].…”

Aqueous Garlic Extract as a Plant Biostimulant Enhances Physiology, Improves Crop Quality and Metabolite Abundance, and Primes the Defense Responses of Receiver Plants

“…Various organic compounds have been identified as biostimulants that enhance crop quality, improve physiology, or activate disease resistance in the receiver plants [5,6]. In a recent study, gelatin used as solid capsules placed beside seeds during germination, stimulated the growth and development of cucumber by providing nitrogen [7]. On the other hand, the biostimulation of soy flour as a seed coating considerably improved the root and shoot growth of broccoli seedlings after germination [8].…”