Impact of Seaweed Liquid Extract Biostimulant on Growth, Yield, and Chemical Composition of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Abstract

Seaweed extract biostimulants are among the best modern sustainable biological plant growth promoters. They have been proven to eliminate plant diseases and abiotic stresses, leading to maximizing yields. Additionally, they have been listed as environmentally friendly biofertilizers. The focus of the present research is the use of a commercial seaweed biostimulant as an eco-friendly product (formally named True Algae Max (TAM). During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, five treatments of various NPK:TAM ratios were applied via regular fertigation, namely a conventional treatment of 100% NPK (C0) alongside combinations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (C25, C50, C75, and C100) of TAM, to evaluate the effectiveness of its bioactive compounds on enhancing growth, yield, and NPK content of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under greenhouse conditions. TAM is rich in phytochemical compounds, such as milbemycin oxime, rhodopin, nonadecane, and 5-silaspiro [4.4]nona-1,3,6,8-tetraene,3,8-bis(diethylboryl)-2,7-diethyl-1,4,6,9-tetraphenyl-. Promising measured parameter outcomes showed the potentiality of applying TAM with and without mixes of ordinary NPK application. TAM could increase cucumber yield due to improving chemical and physical features related to immunity, productivity, and stress defense. In conclusion, it is better to avoid applying mineral fertilizers, considering also that the organic agricultural and welfare sectors could shortly depend on such biotechnological tools and use them to fulfill global food demands for improved sustainability.

Impact of Commercial Seaweed Liquid Extract (TAM®) Biostimulant and Its Bioactive Molecules on Growth and Antioxidant Activities of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

“…They are characterized by their biodegradability, and innocuousness, turning them into environmentally friendly substances, with zero toxic residuals and/or threats [ 3 ]. Seaweed extracts and derivatives have significant biotechnological potentials for disease resistance, due to their unique and exceptional existence and biomolecular structure [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Aside from that, they have been committed to supplying nutrients for crops, promoting the production of superior biomass, and triggering plants’ natural ability to cope with environmental stresses.…”

“…They are known to have a beneficial impact on plants due to their ability to produce several biologically active plant immune inciting molecules. Accordingly, seaweed extracts are strongly recommended to assist organic agriculture due to their very promising stable measures [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Native aquatic species should be tested for their industrial and biotechnological potential as a source of bioactive compounds [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”

“…According to Ashour et al [ 30 ] who reported that seaweed extracts (TAM ® ) is a good growth promoter, a biochemical enhancer, and increase yield production of Rocket Salad Eruca sativa [ 6 ] and cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) [ 7 ], as well as, interestingly, a growth and immunity enhancer of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus , challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila [ 30 , 55 ]. The current study found that crude TAM ® extract showed high antioxidant activities of total phenolic compounds, as well as, showed total flavonoid compounds and ascorbic acid.…”

“…The concept of biostimulants application in agriculture has been explored since 1933 but has attracted interest in recent times as an eventual means to alleviate the negative effects of climate change on the agricultural sector and enhance plant growth and defense mechanisms towards various stresses as well [ 3 ]. The effective application is the use of biostimulants in the form of mixtures of phytochemicals that could induce plant growth and yield while they improve protection against biotic and abiotic stresses, without any drawbacks [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Marine organisms are rich in phytochemical biomolecules with diverse biological activities [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

“…Bioactive molecules derived from seaweed extracts are revolutionary biostimulants used to enhance plant growth and increase yield production. The commercial seaweed liquid extract, namely; True-Algae-Max (TAM ® ), is a natural plant growth regulator that contains high phytochemical compounds, such as polysaccharides, nutrients, and many other bio-molecules [ 30 ], which showed good promoting measured parameters on plant growth and increase yield production of rocket salad ( Eruca vesicaria ) [ 6 ] and cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) [ 7 ]. Interestingly, 5-Silaspiro[4.4]nona-1,3,6,8-tetraene, 3,8-bis (diethylboryl)-2,7-diethyl-1,4,6,9-tetraphenyl-, Milbemycin-oxime, and Nonadecane, were novel phytochemical compounds were reported in TAM ® [ 6 , 7 , 30 ].…”