The Application of a Plant Biostimulant Based on Seaweed and Yeast Extract Improved Tomato Fruit Development and Quality

Abstract

Plant biostimulants are under investigation as innovative products to improve plant production and fruit quality, without resulting in environmental and food contaminations. Here, the effects of the application of Expando, a biostimulant based on seaweed and yeast extracts, on plant productivity, fruit ripening times, and fruit quality of Solanum lycopersicum var. Micro-Tom were evaluated. After biostimulant treatment, a two-week reduction of ripening times and a concomitant enhancement of the production percentage during the earliest ripening times, in terms of both fruit yield (+110%) and size (+85%), were observed. Concerning fruit quality, proximate analysis showed that tomatoes treated with the biostimulant had better nutritional composition compared to untreated samples, since both the quality of unsatured fatty acids (C16:3ω3: +328%; C18:2ω6: −23%) and micronutrients essential for human health (Fe: +14%; Cu: +21%; Zn: +24%) were increased. From a nutraceutical point of view, despite strong changes in bioactive compound profile not being observed, an increase of the antioxidant properties was recorded in fruits harvested by plants treated with the biostimulant (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS): +38%; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH): +11%). In conclusion, the biostimulant application was able to reduce the ripening times and fruit size, while slightly increasing nutritional and nutraceutical values, leading to more marketable tomato fruits.

A Biostimulant Based on Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria digitata) and Yeast Extracts Mitigates Water Stress Effects on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

“…Indeed, Ascophyllum nodosum extracts have been shown to enhance drought tolerance in tomato [36], soybean [37], bean [38], and Salvia officinalis [39], by modulating the osmotic and antioxidant response to stress. On the other hand, yeast extracts are substances known to increase the yield and quality of different crops, including tomato [40], orange [41] and wheat [42], under both control and stress conditions. In particular, Hammad and colleagues observed a reduced induction of stress-related responses in biostimulant-treated wheat, thus suggesting a mitigation of the drought stress effect instead of a tolerance increase in this crop [42].…”

Melatonin and Phytomelatonin: Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Metabolism, Distribution and Bioactivity in Plants and Animals—An Overview

“…Moreover, the exogenous application of melatonin to plants may be considered a sustainable agronomic practice, belonging to the biostimulation process. Indeed, the European Biostimulants Industry Council (EBIC) defined biostimulants as “ Substances and/or microorganisms whose function when applied to plants or the rhizosphere is to stimulate natural processes to benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and/or crop quality, independently of its nutrient content ” [ 180 , 181 ]. Therefore, the exogenous treatment of plants with melatonin perfectly fits with this description.…”

Effects of Biostimulants on the Chemical Composition of Essential Oil and Hydrosol of Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) Cultivated in Tuscan-Emilian Apennines

“…Finally, also yeast extracts are receiving an increased acceptance as biostimulants, being rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, nucleic acid, and lipids. Yeast extracts promote the absorption of phosphorous and the production of phytohormones [23,24]. Notwithstanding the well-documented effectiveness, few studies attempted to employ biostimulants on organic Lavandula crops to improve their productivity, the yield of EO, and its chemical quality [25,26].…”