Biostimulators with marine algae extracts and their role in increasing tolerance to drought stress in highbush blueberry cultivation

Abstract

Drought is one of the most serious challenges facing agriculture and ecosystems around the world. With more frequent and more extreme weather events, the effects of drought are becoming more severe, leading to yield losses, soil depletion and environmental degradation. In this work, we present an analysis of the impact of a marine algae biostimulanat andits ability to offset the effects of drought stress in blueberry cultivation. The aim of the research was to evaluate various fertilisation programs in increasing plant resistance to abiotic stress such as drought. It was tested whether the algal biostimulator provides the same tolerance to drought stress in highbush blueberry plants as regular fertilisers without biostimulation. The research was conducted in 2022 in a greenhouse in controlled drought conditions. Three-year-old highbush blueberry bushes (12 pieces) were used in the experiment. Highbush blueberry bushes (Vaccinium corymbosum) ’Brigitta Blue’ varieties were planted in plastic pots with a capacity of 10 dm3 containing an acidic substrate and placed in a greenhouse. Controlled lighting conditions were maintained using sodium lamps and a temperature of 25°C/20°C day/night. The substrate in pots was maintained at 80% of field water capacity by manual watering and weekly supply of nutrient solution for 5 weeks until water deficit occurred. Half of the plants were sprayed weekly with biostimulant at a concentration of 1%, three times 1 week apart (1 application per week). The biostimulant was evenly applied to the entire plant. Seven days after the third application of the product, half of the unsprayed and sprayed plants were subjected to water deficit stress by holding thewatering until 40% of the field water capacity (FC) was reached. The experimental layout included four combinations: C—Control—no biostimulation, no water deficit; CS—Stress control—water deficit up to 40% FC, no biostimulation; B—Biostimulator—no water deficit, biostimulation; BS—Stress plus biostimulator—water deficit up to 40% FC, biostimulation. Fertilisers with seaweed extracts show the ability to reduce the adverse effects of stress, promoting plant resilience, including tolerance to drought stress. The following were evaluated in the experiment: catalase activity, peroxidase activity, free malondialdehyde content, photosynthetic activity and leaf mineral content. The biostimulant used in experiment increased the oxidative activity of the enzymes pe-roxidase and catalase under simulated drought stress conditions. The algal biostimulant increased the average value of catalase activity by 20% in comparison to the control plants, in both combinatinations. The tested biostimulator had no effect on the chlorophyll content in the leaves or the concentration of nutrients in the leaves. The effect of marine algae products on the yield quantity and high quality is related among other to bioactive substances which helps to prevent drought stress.