According to FAO (2017) by 2050 the world will need 60% more food than is available today. In recent years biostimulants have proven to be valid complements to traditional fertilizers thanks to the ability to improve crops quality and plants nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stress. Applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria in this field are still at the beginning and the studies available so far focus on a few genera of microalgae (Chlorella spp. and Scenedesmus spp.) and Cyanobacteria (Arthrospira spp.). Therefore, the enormous biodiversity of these organisms remains largely unexplored. In this work, the biostimulant activity of seven cyanobacterial extracts obtained from Nostocales, Oscillatoriales and Synechococcales strains was evaluated on basil (O. basilicum L.) grown in hydroponics. Plants were treated weekly with foliar applications of the cyanobacterial extracts and with two commercial biostimulants. Three of the cyanobacterial strains were the most effective in promoting plant growth, with an increase in plant fresh weight of about 30%, compared to the untreated control; while the commercial biostimulants did not produce any significant effect on plant growth. From a first biochemical characterization, bioactivity seems to be related to a high carbohydrate content in the biostimulant cyanobacterial extracts. The same assay was then used to test a microalgal strain belonging to Porphyridiales, known for the high carbohydrate content in the biomass, obtaining comparable results. The most promising extracts were also tested in vitro on A. thaliana by applying different concentrations in order to determine dose-response curves and the effect of treatments on root development. Our results indicate that cyanobacteria are good candidates for the formulation of new biostimulants, as they perform better than commercial products on the tested plant species, and highlights the important role of microalgal carbohydrates in stimulating plant growth.

Cyanobacteria as plant biostimulants: a promising strategy to improve yields and sustainability in agriculture / Gaia Santini, Massimo D’Ottavio, Natascia Biondi, Liliana Rodolfi, Mario R. Tredici. - ELETTRONICO. - (2020), pp. 1-1. (Intervento presentato al convegno AISAM 2020 tenutosi a Padova nel 07/09/2020).

Cyanobacteria as plant biostimulants: a promising strategy to improve yields and sustainability in agriculture

Gaia Santini;Massimo D’Ottavio;Natascia Biondi;Liliana Rodolfi
;
Mario R. Tredici
2020

Abstract

According to FAO (2017) by 2050 the world will need 60% more food than is available today. In recent years biostimulants have proven to be valid complements to traditional fertilizers thanks to the ability to improve crops quality and plants nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stress. Applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria in this field are still at the beginning and the studies available so far focus on a few genera of microalgae (Chlorella spp. and Scenedesmus spp.) and Cyanobacteria (Arthrospira spp.). Therefore, the enormous biodiversity of these organisms remains largely unexplored. In this work, the biostimulant activity of seven cyanobacterial extracts obtained from Nostocales, Oscillatoriales and Synechococcales strains was evaluated on basil (O. basilicum L.) grown in hydroponics. Plants were treated weekly with foliar applications of the cyanobacterial extracts and with two commercial biostimulants. Three of the cyanobacterial strains were the most effective in promoting plant growth, with an increase in plant fresh weight of about 30%, compared to the untreated control; while the commercial biostimulants did not produce any significant effect on plant growth. From a first biochemical characterization, bioactivity seems to be related to a high carbohydrate content in the biostimulant cyanobacterial extracts. The same assay was then used to test a microalgal strain belonging to Porphyridiales, known for the high carbohydrate content in the biomass, obtaining comparable results. The most promising extracts were also tested in vitro on A. thaliana by applying different concentrations in order to determine dose-response curves and the effect of treatments on root development. Our results indicate that cyanobacteria are good candidates for the formulation of new biostimulants, as they perform better than commercial products on the tested plant species, and highlights the important role of microalgal carbohydrates in stimulating plant growth.
2020
Book of Abstracts AISAM 2020
AISAM 2020
Padova
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Gaia Santini, Massimo D’Ottavio, Natascia Biondi, Liliana Rodolfi, Mario R. Tredici
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1211690
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