1. The Use of a Plant-Based Biostimulant Improves Plant Performances and Fruit Quality in Tomato Plants Grown at Elevated Temperatures
- Author
-
Silvana Francesca, Patrizia Ambrosino, Maria Manuela Rigano, Carlo Schettini, Bruno Hay Mele, Amalia Barone, Carmen Arena, Francesca, S., Arena, C., Hay Mele, B., Schettini, C., Ambrosino, P., Barone, A., and Rigano, M. M.
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Antioxidant ,abiotic stress ,medicine.medical_treatment ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Nutritional quality ,Biology ,tomato ,01 natural sciences ,lcsh:Agriculture ,03 medical and health sciences ,medicine ,biostimulant ,030304 developmental biology ,media_common ,2. Zero hunger ,Abiotic component ,0303 health sciences ,Abiotic stress ,Crop yield ,fungi ,fruit quality ,lcsh:S ,food and beverages ,Plant based ,Ascorbic acid ,Horticulture ,antioxidants ,Reproduction ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Abiotic stresses can cause a substantial decline in fruit quality due to negative impacts on plant growth, physiology and reproduction. The objective of this study was to verify if the use of a biostimulant based on plant and yeast extracts, rich in amino acids and that contains microelements (boron, zinc and manganese) can ensure good crop yield and quality in tomato plants grown at elevated temperatures (up to 42 °, C). We investigated physiological responses of four different tomato landraces that were cultivated under plastic tunnel and treated with the biostimulant CycoFlow. The application of the biostimulant stimulated growth (plants up to 48.5% taller) and number of fruits (up to 105.3%). In plants treated with the biostimulant, antioxidants contents were higher compared to non-treated plants, both in leaves and in fruits. In particular, the content of ascorbic acid increased after treatments with CycoFlow. For almost all the traits studied, the effect of the biostimulant depended on the genotype it was applied on. Altogether, the use of the biostimulant on tomato plants led to better plant performances at elevated temperatures, that could be attributed also to a stronger antioxidant defence system, and to a better fruit nutritional quality.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF