https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2021.1825

Foliar application of plant-based biostimulants improve yield and upgrade qualitative characteristics of processing tomato

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2021): Special issue on "Innovative fertilizers for sustainable agriculture"
Submitted: 31 January 2021
Accepted: 20 March 2021
Published: 23 March 2021
Solanum Lycopersicum L., sustainable agriculture, tropical plant extract, seaweed, protein hydrolysates, fruits quality, soluble solids, nitrogen efficiency.
Abstract Views: 2919
HTML: 248
PDF: 1234
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a diffused worldwide vegetable. Great amounts of fertilizers are often applied for increasing yield and quality, without considering the negative effect on the environment. A possible perspective for reducing this risk is to raise the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) through the use of plant biostimulants, which also improve yield and quality concomitantly. The aim of the current study was to verify the potential beneficial effect of three vegetal-based biostimulants on agronomical, qualitative and nitrogen use efficiency of a processing tomato crop. The experiment provided three biostimulants (an extract of brown seaweed [SwE], a legume-derived protein hydrolysate [LDPH] and a tropical plant extract). The following assessments were carried out: marketable and unmarketable yields, mean fruits weight, firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), colour parameters (a/b), hydrophilic antioxidant activity (HAA), lipophilic antioxidant activity (LAA), total ascorbic acid content (AsA), total phenols, nitrate and total nitrogen content, nitrogen use efficiency, N-uptake efficiency, and N-utilization. The foliar application of biostimulants especially protein hydrolysates and seaweed extract significantly affected the marketable yield with an average increase of 18.3% over the control and 41.3% average decrease in unmarketable yield. The N-use and N-uptake efficiency followed a similar trend, with biostimulants boosting it higher than control, +18.4% and +59.3%, respectively; the nitrogen content was also higher in fruits of sprayed plants: +21.3% over control. This finding also reflects on higher dry matter accumulation and firmness in fruits of treated plants (+10.9% and +14.1% over control, respectively). The biostimulants application, in particular SwE and LDPH, also boosted TSS (+12.8%), the a/b colour ratio (+7.5%), HAA and AsA (9.8% and 114.6%, respectively). Therefore, the legume-derived protein hydrolysates and extract of brown seaweed Ecklonia maxima seem a good sustainable approach to improve yield and quality of tomato for canning industries.

Highlights
- The effects of three plant-based biostimulants on yield and quality of processing tomato was explored.
- Application of protein hydrolysates and seaweed extract improve marketable yield.
- The biostimulants had different effect on nutritional and functional quality of tomato.
- Hydrophilic antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content increased under protein hydrolysate application.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Ali N, Farrell A, Ramsubhag A, and Jayaraman J, 2016. The effect of Ascophyllum nodosum extract on the growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato under tropical conditions. J. Appl. Phycol. 28:1353-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-015-0608-3
Aujla MS, Thind HS, Buttar GS, 2007. Fruit yield and water use efficiency of eggplant (Solanum melongema L.) as influenced by different quantities of nitrogen and water applied through drip and furrow irrigation. Sci. Hortic. 112:142-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.12.020
Brandt S, Pék Z, Barna É, Lugasi A, Helyes L, 2006. Lycopene content and colour of ripening tomatoes as affected by environmental conditions. J. Sci. Food Agri. 86:568-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2390
Bremner JM, 1965. Total nitrogen. pp 1149-1178 in C.A. Black, D.D. Evans, I.L. White, L.E. Ensminger, F.E. Clark (Eds.), Methods of soil analysis, Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.c32
Bulgari R, Cocetta G, Trivellini A, Vernieri P, & Ferrante A, 2015. Biostimulants and crop responses: a review. Bio. Agri. Hort. 31:1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.2014.964649
Calvo P, Nelson L, Kloepper JW, 2014. Agricultural uses of plant biostimulants. Plant Soil. 383:3-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2131-8
Cammarano D, Ronga D, Di Mola I, Mori M, Parisi M, 2020. Impact of climate change on water and nitrogen use efficiencies of processing tomato cultivated in Italy. Agr. Water Manage. 241:106336. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106336
Caruso G, De Pascale S, Cozzolino E, Giordano M, El-Nakhel C, Cuciniello A, Rouphael Y, 2019a. Protein hydrolysate or plant extract-based biostimulants enhanced yield and quality performances of greenhouse perennial wall rocket grown in different seasons. Plants 8:208. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8070208
Caruso G, Giordano M, Cozzolino E, Cuciniello A, Cenvinzo V, Bonini P, Colla G, Rouphael Y, 2019b. Yield and nutritional quality of Vesuvian Piennolo tomato PDO as affected by farming system and biostimulant application. Agronomy 9:505. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9090505
Chapman NH, Bonnet J, Grivet L, Lynn J, Graham N, Smith R, Sun G, Walley PG, Poole M, Causse M, Graham JK, Baxter C, Seymour GB, 2012. High-resolution mapping of a fruit firmness-related quantitative trait locus in tomato reveals epistatic interactions associated with a complex combinatorial locus. Plant Physiol. 159:1644-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.112.200634
Colla G, Cardarelli M, Bonini P, Rouphael Y, 2017a. Foliar applications of protein hydrolysate, plant and seaweed extracts increase yield but differentially modulate fruit quality of greenhouse tomato. HortSci. 52:1214-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI12200-17
Colla G, Hoagland L, Ruzzi M, Cardarelli M, Bonini P, Canaguier R, Rouphael Y, 2017b. Biostimulant action of protein hydrolysates: Unraveling their effects on plant physiology and microbiome. Front. Plant Sci. 8:2202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.02202
Colla G, Rouphael Y, Canaguier R, Svecova E, Cardarelli M, 2014. Biostimulant action of a plant-derived protein hydrolysate produced through enzymatic hydrolysis. Front. Plant Sci. 5:448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00448
Cozzolino E, Giordano M, Fiorentino N, El-Nakhel C, Pannico A, Di Mola I, Mori M, Kyriacou MC, Colla G, Rouphael Y, 2020. Appraisal of biodegradable mulching films and vegetal-derived biostimulant application as eco-sustainable practices for enhancing lettuce crop performance and nutritive value. Agronomy 10:427. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030427
de Jong M, Mariani C, Vriezen WH, 2009. The role of auxin and gibberellin in tomato fruit set. J. Expt. Bot. 60:1523-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erp094
Del Giudice R, Petruk G, Raiola A, Barone A, Monti DM, Rigano MM, 2016. Carotenoids in fresh and processed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits protect cells from oxidative stress injury. J. Sci. Food Agric. 97:1616-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7910
Di Mola I, Conti S, Cozzolino E, Melchionna G, Ottaiano L, Testa A, Mori M, 2021. Plant-based protein hydrolysate improves salinity tolerance in Hemp: agronomical and physiological aspects. Agronomy 11:342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020342
Di Mola I, Cozzolino E, Ottaiano L, Nocerino S, Rouphael Y, Colla G, Mori M, 2020a. Nitrogen use and uptake efficiency and crop performance of baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta L.) grown under variable sub-optimal N regimes combined with plant-based biostimulant application. Agronomy. 10:278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020278
Di Mola I, Cozzolino E, Ottaiano L, Giordano M, Rouphael Y, El-Nakhel C, Mori M, 2020b. Effect of seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) extract and legume-derived protein hydrolysate biostimulants on baby leaf lettuce grown on optimal doses of nitrogen under greenhouse conditions. Aust. J. Crop Sci.14:1456-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.20.14.09.p2511
Di Mola I, Ottaiano L, Cozzolino E, Senatore M, Giordano M, El-Nakhel C, Sacco A, Rouphael Y, Mori M, 2019. Plant-based biostimulants influence the agronomical, physiological, and qualitative responses of baby rocket leaves under diverse nitrogen conditions. Plants. 8:522. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8110522
Djidonou D, Zhao X, Simonne EH, Koch KE, Erickson JE, 2013. Yield, water and nitrogen-use efficiency in field-grown, grafted tomatoes. HortSci. 48:485-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.48.4.485
du Jardin P, 2015. Plant biostimulants: definition, concept, main categories and regulation. Sci. Hortic. 196:3-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2015.09.021
Du YD, Cao HX, Liu SQ, Gu, XB, Cao YX, 2017. Response of yield, quality, water and nitrogen use efficiency of tomato to different levels of water and nitrogen under drip irrigation in Northwestern China. J. Integr. Agr. 16:1153-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61371-0
Ertani A, Pizzeghello D, Francioso O, Sambo P, Sanchez-Cortes S, Nardi S, 2014. Capsicum chinensis L. growth and nutraceutical properties are enhanced by biostimulants in a long-term period: Chemical and metabolomic approaches. Front. Plant Sci. 5:1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00375
Ertani A, Cavani L, Pizzeghello D, Brandellero E, Altissimo A, Ciavatta C, Nardi S, 2009. Biostimulant activity of two protein hydrolyzates in the growth and nitrogen metabolism of maize seedlings. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.172:237-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200800174
Fernández V, Eichert T, 2009 Uptake of hydrophilic solutes through plant leaves: current state of knowledge and perspectives of foliar fertilization. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci 28:36-68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07352680902743069
Flores P, Hellin P, Fenoll J, 2009. Effect of manure and mineral fertilization on pepper nutritional quality. J. Sci. Food Agric. 89:1581-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.3627
Fogliano V, Verde V, Randazzo G, Ritieni A, 1999. Method for measuring antioxidant activity and its application to monitoring the antioxidant capacity of wines. J. Agric. Food Chem. 47:1035-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf980496s
Hawkesford M, Kopriva S, De Kok L (Eds.), 2014. Nutrient use efficiency in plants - Concepts and approaches. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10635-9
Hawkesford M, Horst W, Kichey T, Lambers H, Schjoerring J, Møller IS, White P, 2012. Functions of macronutrients. In Marschner’s mineral nutrition of higher plants. Acad. Press. 135-89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384905-2.00006-6
Huang Y, Lu R, Chen K, 2018. Prediction of firmness parameters of tomatoes by portable visible and near-infrared spectroscopy. J. Food Engine. 222:185-98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2017.11.030
Kader AA, 2002. Postharvest technology of horticultural crops, p. 535. Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Publication n. 3311.
Kalt W, 2005. Effects of production and processing factors on major fruit and vegetable antioxidants. J. Food Sci. 70:R11-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.tb09053.x
Kampfenkel K, Van Montagu M, Inzé D, 1995. Extraction and determination of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate from plant tissue. Anal. Biochem. 225:165-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1995.1127
Khanam UKS, Oba S, Yanase E, Murakami Y, 2012. Phenolic acids, flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity of selected leafy vegetables. J. Funct. Foods 4:979-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2012.07.006
Koukounararas A, Tsouvaltzis P, Siomos AS, 2013. Effect of root and foliar application of amino acids on the growth and yield of greenhouse tomato in different fertilization levels. J. Food Agric. Environ. 11:644-8.
Kyriacou MC, Rouphael Y, 2018. Towards a new definition of quality for fresh fruits and vegetables. Sci. Hortic. 234:463-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.09.046
Lucini L, Rouphael Y, Cardarelli M, Canaguier R, Kumar P, Colla G, 2015. The effect of a plant-derived biostimulant on metabolic proï¬ling and crop performance of lettuce grown under saline conditions. Sci. Hortic. 182:124-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2014.11.022
Maach M, Boudouasar K, Akodad M, Skalli A, Moumen A, & Baghour M, 2020. Application of biostimulants improves yield and fruit quality in tomato. Int. J. Vege. Sci. 1-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2020.1780536
Nangare DD, Singh Y, Kumar PS, Minhas PS, 2016. Growth, fruit yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) as affected by deficit irrigation regulated on phenological basis. Agri. Water Manag. 171:73-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.03.016
Nardi S, Pizzeghello D, Schiavon M, Ertani A, 2016. Plant biostimulants: Physiological responses induced by protein hydrolyzed-based products and humic substances in plant metabolism. Sci. Agric. 73:18-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-9016-2015-0006
ParaÄ‘iković N, Vinković T, Vinković VrÄek I, Žuntar I, Bojić M, Medić-Å arić M, 2011. Effect of natural biostimulants on yield and nutritional quality: an example of sweet yellow pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). J. Sci. Food Agri. 91:2146-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.4431
Re R, Pellegrini N, Proteggente A, Pannala A, Yang M, Rice-Evans C, 1999. Antioxidant activity applying an improved ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. Free. Radic. Biol. Med. 26:1231-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0891-5849(98)00315-3
Rolland F, Moore B, Sheen J. 2002. Sugar sensing and signalling in plants. Plant Cell. 14:S185-205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.010455
Ronga D, Pentangelo A, Parisi M, 2020. Optimizing N fertilization to improve yield, technological and nutritional quality of tomato grown in high fertility soil conditions. Plants 9:575. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050575
Ronga D, Parisi M, Pentangelo A, Mori M, Di Mola I, 2019. Effects of nitrogen management on biomass production and dry matter distribution of processing tomato cropped in southern Italy. Agronomy 9:855. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9120855
Rouphael Y, Giordano M, Cardarelli M, Cozzolino E, Mori M, Kyriacou M, Bonini P, Colla G, 2018a. Plant and seaweed-based extracts increase yield but differentially modulate nutritional quality of greenhouse spinach through biostimulant action. Agronomy 8:126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8070126
Rouphael Y, Kyriacou MC, Petropoulos SA, De Pascale S, Colla G, 2018b. Improving vegetable quality in controlled environments. Sci. Hortic. 234:275-89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.02.033
Rouphael Y, Colla G, Graziani G, Ritieni A, Cardarelli M, and De Pascale S, 2017a. Phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and mineral proï¬le in two seed-propagated artichoke cultivars as affected by microbial inoculants and planting time. Food Chem. 234:10-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.175
Rouphael Y, Colla G, Giordano M, El-Nakhel C, Kyriacou M C, & De Pascale S, 2017b. Foliar applications of a legume-derived protein hydrolysate elicit dose-dependent increases of growth, leaf mineral composition, yield and fruit quality in two greenhouse tomato cultivars. Sci. Hortic. 226:353-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.09.007
Schiavon M, Ertani A, Nardi S, 2008. Effects of an alfalfa protein hydrolysate on the gene expression and activity of enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and nitrogen metabolism in Zea mays L. J. Agric. Food Chem. 56:11800-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf802362g
Singleton VL, Orthofer R, Lamuela-Raventós RM, 1999. Analysis of total phenols and other oxidation substrates and antioxidants by means of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. In: Methods in enzymology. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA, USA, 299:152-178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0076-6879(99)99017-1
Subbarao SB, Aftab Hussain IS, Ganesh PT, 2015. Biostimulant activity of protein hydrolysate: influence on plant growth and yield. J. Plant Sci. Res. 2:125.
Villarreal-Sánchez JA, Ilyina A, Mendez-Jiménez LP, Robledo-Torres V, Rodríguez-Herrera R, Canales-López B, Rodríguez-Martínez J, 2003. Isolation of microbial groups from a seaweed extract and comparison of their effects on a growth of pepper culture (Capsicum annuum L.). Moscow Univ. Chem. Bull. 44:92-6.
Van Oosten MJ, Pepe O, De Pascale S, Silletti S, Maggio A, 2017. The role of biostimulants and bioeffectors as alleviators of abiotic stress in crop plants. Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric. 4:5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-017-0089-5

How to Cite

Cozzolino, E. ., Di Mola, I., Ottaiano, L., El-Nakhel , C., Rouphael, Y., & Mori, M. (2021). Foliar application of plant-based biostimulants improve yield and upgrade qualitative characteristics of processing tomato. Italian Journal of Agronomy, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2021.1825
Copyright (c) 2021 The Author(s) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.