Biostimulant activity of Eucheuma cottonii extract on early growth of Elaeis guineensis Jacq

Abstract

Seaweed extract contains many bioactive compounds that boost the metabolisms of various plant commodities, ranging from germination, growth, and productivity. This study aimed to increase the early growth of oil palm germinated seeds by applying Eucheuma cottonii extract. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) to test the optimum dose of E. cottonii methanol extract on oil palm growth stimulation (22 oil palm germinated seeds/treatment with equal growth performance). The germinated seeds were soaked with E. cottonii extract for one hour, then germinated for seven days. Observations were made on plumula length, radicula length, and the number of lateral radicula that performed daily. The data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA with Tukey HSD as the further test (p>95%). E. cottonii extract was dominated by auxin, 32.24 mg Kg-1, with a dose of 0.5% significantly increased radicula length by 50.85%, followed by an increased number of lateral radicula by 70.97% compared to control. Thus, 0.5% of Eucheuma cottonii extract could be used as an alternative plant growth regulator in stimulating the early growth of oil palm germinated seeds.