Seaweed extract by microwave assisted extraction as plant growth biostimulant

AbstractMicrowave Assisted Extraction (MAE) was used to obtain aqueous extracts of Baltic seaweeds. Three different temperatures: 25, 40, 60°C were examined. Algal extracts were characterized in terms of polyphenols, micro- and macroelements, lipids content and antibacterial properties. This is the first study that examines the effect of algal extract obtained by MAE in plant cultivation. The utilitarian properties were checked in the germination tests on Lepidium sativum for three dilutions of extract (0.5, 2.5 and 10%). Results showed that the content of polyphenols in extracts decreased with temperature, whereas the content of micro- and macroalements increased with temperature. The aqueous extracts did not contain fatty acids and did not show inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Germination tests showed that plants in the experimental groups with an optimal concentration of extract had a higher height, weight, chlorophyll and micro- and macroelement content than plants in the control group. The algal extracts did not significantly influence the morphology of plants as shown in SEM pictures. Results show that algal extracts obtained by MAE have the highest potential applied in agriculture as biostimulants.

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Plant Growth Biostimulants Based on Different Methods of Seaweed Extraction with Water

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2016/5973760 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Katarzyna Godlewska ◽

Izabela Michalak ◽

Łukasz Tuhy ◽

Katarzyna Chojnacka

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antibacterial Properties ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Lepidium Sativum ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Control Group ◽

Aqueous Extracts ◽

E Coli ◽

Algal Extracts

We explored two methods for obtaining aqueous extracts: boiling and soaking of Baltic seaweeds (EB and ES, resp.). Algal extracts were characterized in terms of polyphenols, micro- and macroelements, lipids content, and antibacterial properties. The utilitarian properties were examined in the germination tests onLepidium sativumfor three extract dilutions (0.5, 2.5, and 10%). It was found that the extracts were similar in micro- and macroelement concentrations. Water was proved to be a good solvent to extract phenolic compounds. The algal extract produced by soaking biomass did not show inhibitory effect onEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureus. Only the boiled extract had an inhibitory activity againstE. coli. Germination tests revealed a positive influence of the bioproducts on the cultivated plants. In the group treated with 10% EB, plants were 13% longer than in the control group; the content of elements B, Mo, Zn, and Na in the group treated with 10% ES was higher by 76%, 48%, 31%, and 59% than in the control group, respectively; the content of chlorophyll was 2.5 times higher in 0.5% ES than in the control group. Extracts showed the slight impact on the morphology of plants.

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