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Comparison of the effect of two categories of Arthrospira platensis polysaccharides (exo and endopolysaccharides) on tomato growth: Effect on morphological, histological and biochemical plant growth traits

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Abstract

With the aim to improve soil and plant functioning, through stimulation of biological processes, several natural products and substances have appeared recently in the agricultural inputs market. In this way, microalgal polysaccharides have gained popularity in last years as biostimulants due to its capacity to modulate several plant development traits, simultaneously. Thus, Arthrospira platensis, being a widely cultivated microalga worldwide and an important source of polysaccharides, was chosen in current work to study the effect of polysaccharides on tomato plants development. Exocellular (EPS) and bound polysaccharides (BPS) were applied at different plant growth stages and their physiological effects studied. While, no effect was shown on germination, all treatments enhanced growth and modified chemical composition of treated plants depending on polysaccharides kind and their application method. BPS used by fertigation stimulated roots growth (87 and 757% for roots length and weight respectively, compared with the control). Leaves number and size were increased with all treatments with an average of 47% and 137% respectively, without any effect of polysaccharides kind or the application method. All treatments increased the leaves carbohydrates content with a maximum (5 mg g−1 vs. 2 mg g−1 in the control) obtained after BPS by soil application. This treatment also improved protein content. In addition, chlorophylls a and b as well as carotenoids were significantly increased with all treatments (with 121%, 96% and 130%, respectively). Nutrient uptake was also affected by polysaccharides treatments with an increase of phosphorus content in the plant tissues (190%). The histological study showed a modification of xylem formation in roots and ground parenchyma cells in leaves in response to polysaccharides application. Thus, A. platensis endo and exopolysaccharides extracts could act as an interesting plant growth promoter for sustainable agriculture.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Botany, Mycology & Environment, Research Center of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity & Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Avenue Ibn Battouta, PO Box 1014, 10000, Rabat, Morocco

    Arahou Fadia, Lijassi Ibtissam, Rhazi Laila, Arahou Moustapha & Wahby Imane

  2. Polydisciplinary Faculty of Larache, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tétouan, Morocco

    Wahby Anass

  3. Laboratory of Water, Studies and Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tétouan, Morocco

    Wahby Anass

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  1. Arahou Fadia
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  2. Lijassi Ibtissam
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Contributions

AF: conducted the experiments, writing of the manuscript, analysis of results. LI: Experimental work (biochemical analysis). WA: Experimental work (nutrient uptake). RL: Statistical analysis. AM: Project supervision and revision of the manuscript. WI: Project conception, project supervision, design of methodology and revision of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Arahou Fadia.

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Fadia, A., Ibtissam, L., Anass, W. et al. Comparison of the effect of two categories of Arthrospira platensis polysaccharides (exo and endopolysaccharides) on tomato growth: Effect on morphological, histological and biochemical plant growth traits. J Appl Phycol 35, 1183–1192 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-02948-7

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