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Physiological role of phenolic biostimulants isolated from brown seaweed Ecklonia maxima on plant growth and development

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Eckol, a major phenolic compound isolated from brown seaweed significantly enhanced the bulb size and bioactive compounds in greenhouse-grown Eucomis autumnalis.

We investigated the effect of eckol and phloroglucinol (PG) (phenolic compounds) isolated from the brown seaweed, Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss on the growth, phytochemical and auxin content in Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. The model plant is a popular medicinal species with increasing conservation concern. Eckol and PG were tested at 10−5, 10−6 and 10−7 M using soil drench applications. After 4 months, growth parameters, phytochemical and auxin content were recorded. When compared to the control, eckol (10−6 M) significantly improved bulb size, fresh weight and root production while the application of PG (10−6 M) significantly increased the bulb numbers. However, both compounds had no significant stimulatory effect on aerial organs. Bioactive phytochemicals such as p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids were significantly increased in eckol (10−5 M) and PG (10−6 M) treatments, compared to the control. Aerial (1,357 pmol/g DW) and underground (1,474 pmol/g DW) parts of eckol-treated (10−5 M) plants yielded the highest concentration of indole-3-acetic acid. Overall, eckol and PG elicited a significant influence on the growth and physiological response in E. autumnalis. Considering the medicinal importance of E. autumnalis and the increasing strains on its wild populations, these compounds are potential tools to enhance their cultivation and growth.

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Abbreviations

IAA:

Indole-3-acetic acid

IAAsp:

Indole-3-acetyl-l-aspartic acid

IAC:

Immunoaffinity chromatography

MRM:

Multiple reaction monitoring

MS:

Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium

OxIAA:

2-Oxindole-3-acetic acid

PG:

Phloroglucinol

PGR:

Plant growth regulator

PPF:

Photosynthetic photon flux

SPE:

Solid-phase extraction

UHPLC:

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

UV:

Ultra-violet

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Acknowledgments

The Claude Leon Foundation, University of KwaZulu-Natal and National Research Foundation, South Africa are thanked for financial support. This work was also financed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic (the Program “Návrat” for Research, Development, and Innovations, No. LK21306), National Program for Sustainability (Grant LO1204) and the Czech Science Foundation (Grant 14-34792S). We thank Mrs Alison Young (UKZN Botanical Garden, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and her staff for their assistance in maintaining the greenhouse facilities.

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Author notes

  1. Stephen O. Amoo

    Present address: Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X293, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Adeyemi O. Aremu, Nqobile A. Masondo, Kannan R. R. Rengasamy, Stephen O. Amoo & Johannes Van Staden

  2. Laboratory of Growth Regulators & Department of Chemical Biology and Genetics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Jiří Gruz, Ondřej Bíba, Michaela Šubrtová, Aleš Pěnčík, Ondřej Novák & Karel Doležal

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  1. Adeyemi O. Aremu
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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Aremu, A.O., Masondo, N.A., Rengasamy, K.R.R. et al. Physiological role of phenolic biostimulants isolated from brown seaweed Ecklonia maxima on plant growth and development. Planta 241, 1313–1324 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-015-2256-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-015-2256-x

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