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Effect of aqueous extract of Sargassum johnstonii Setchell & Gardner on growth, yield and quality of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

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Abstract

Experiments were conducted on tomato to study the potential of brown alga Sargassum johnstonii as a biofertilizer. Seaweed extract was applied as a foliar spray, soil drench, and soil drench + foliar spray to assess its effect on plant growth, yield, and concentration of lycopene and vitamin C. The main objective of the study was to enhance the biochemical constituents with neutraceutical and antioxidant values in tomato fruit. Different concentrations (0.1%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 2%, 6%, 8%, and 10%; v/v) of seaweed extract were used and growth was observed over a period of 7 months. A total of 14 sprays/drenches were applied at 15-day intervals during the entire vegetative and reproductive phase. A statistically significant increase in vegetative growth (plant height, shoot length, root length, and number of branches), reproductive parameters (flower number, fruit number, and fresh weight), and biochemical constituents (photosynthetic pigments, proteins, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, starch, phenols, lycopene, and vitamin C) was recorded following all three methods of treatment at higher concentrations of seaweed extract. The study also reports auxin- and cytokinin-like activity, and the presence of macro- (Ca, Mg, Na, and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn), in seaweed extract of S. johnstonii, which makes it a potential biofertilizer.

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Acknowledgements

Reeta Kumari is thankful to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi (India) for the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship award for 2008–2009. Inderdeep Kaur gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Department of Science and Technology under their Women Scientist Scheme (WOS-A). We also thank Dr P.V. Subha Rao, Scientist, Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat (India) for his help in collection of seaweed material from the Port Okha, Gujarat. We thank Dr. Rupam Kapoor, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, University of Delhi for her comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    Reeta Kumari, Inderdeep Kaur & A. K. Bhatnagar

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  1. Reeta Kumari
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  2. Inderdeep Kaur
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  3. A. K. Bhatnagar
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Correspondence to A. K. Bhatnagar.

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Kumari, R., Kaur, I. & Bhatnagar, A.K. Effect of aqueous extract of Sargassum johnstonii Setchell & Gardner on growth, yield and quality of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.. J Appl Phycol 23, 623–633 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-011-9651-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-011-9651-x

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