The Amendment with Chitin and/or Chitosan Improves the Germination and Growth of Lycopersicon esculentum L., Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L.

Abstract

Background: Chitin and chitosan are natural products extracted from shrimp shells. They are non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable which favors many applications in agricultural domain. Moreover, chitin and chitosan are known as stimulators of photosynthetic rates and enhance pants growth through minerals contains (C, O, N ….). In the present study, these co-products are evaluated for their ability to stimulate the germination and growth of Lycopersicon esculentum L., Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L. Methods: The experiments were conducted at Ibn Tofail University-Kenitra, between July 2016 to January 2018. The experiments are carried out by using a germination test for the three seeds. On the other hand, the in vivo test is used to determine the effect of the biopolymers on plant growth (length, fresh and dry weights of aerial and root parts, number and weight of the obtained fruits). Result: In vitro studies reveal a promoter action of chitosan and the mixture chitin-chitosan on increasing seed germination percentage by 16%, 34% and 22%. Thus, at both 25, 50 and 100 mg/l of chitin or chitosan, increase vigor index, shoot length and root is obtained. In vivo, the effect of chitin and chitosan is limited to stimulation of the lengths, fresh and dry weights of plants. However, a highly significant increase in the number and weight of the fruits is marked by the weekly soil amendment by the chitin-chitosan mixture at 25 mg/l and 100 mg/l.