Testing the bioactivity of kelp extracts developed via chemical and physical separation techniques using bioassays

Seaweed products have been used for centuries for crop growth, to improve plant health and yield. Several species of seaweed and several extraction methods have been used to manufacture products that are now available for use in agriculture. Researches on the effects of liquid seaweed extract have shown an increase in root mass and adventitious root development, as well as improved health, resistance to stress, and increased yield. Despite the wide use and clear advantages of kelp extract products, the exact element(s) which stimulate the improved development have yet to be identified. An investigation was carried out on the bioactive properties of the Canadian seaweed extract Kelpgrow® (Macrocystis integrifolia) to analyze the effects of individual components within kelp, have on plant growth, and to identify the compounds within the product that are responsible for improved plant growth and development. A number of fractionation methods have been used for obtaining samples of the required quantity. Kelpgrow® has also been analyzed to classify its contents and the concentration levels of the compounds identified. Samples have been tested, alongside unaltered Kelpgrow® as well as synthetic plant growth regulators and other synthetic compounds typically found in seaweed, in several bioassays (mung bean adventitious rooting, lettuce hypocotyl and radish cotyledon), comparing their effects on plant growth.
2nd World Congress on the Use of Biostimulants in Agriculture, November 16-19, 2015, Florence, Italy
Series: Acta Horticulturae