Abstract
Abstract Seaweed extracts are employed as biostimulants due to their beneficial effects on crop growth and yield. Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract aid to improve seedling growth and development, and decrease seedlings production costs; however, the correct concentration must be used in order to maximize the biostimulant effects. Consequently, this study aimed to analyze the effects of different concentrations of a seaweed-based (Ascophyllum nodosum) biostimulant on ornamental sunflower seed germination and seedling growth. Seeds of ornamental sunflower cv. “Sol Pleno” were sown in polyethylene trays containing commercial substrate. The treatments consisted of dairy spraying 60 mL of the solutions 0 (control), 5, 10 or 15 mL L-1 biostimulant on substrate. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 treatments (concentrations of biostimulant) and 4 replicates (10 seeds replicate-1). The evaluated variables were percentage, index and time averages of germination, seedling height, fresh and dry mass of shoot and roots, and root system morphology (WinRhizo). The increase of the biostimulant concentration enhances seed germination and seedlings development. The concentration 15 mL L-1 biostimulant showed the best results for percentage and index of germination and the lowest mean germination time and increase plant height and fresh and dry mass of shoots in relation to the control treatment. Accordingly, 15 mL L-1 biostimulant (Ascophyllum nodosum) is recommended for ornamental sunflower “Sol Pleno” seed germination and seedlings growth.
Highlights
Brazil is among the 15 principal producers of ornamental plants in the world with more than 8 thousand producers cultivating around 350 species and 3 thousand varieties (Schoenmaker, 2019)
The seaweed-based (Ascophyllum nodosum) biostimulant was used for experimentation on concentrations of 0, 5, 10 or 15 mL L-1 biostimulant diluted on tap water (Carvalho et al, 2018)
Similar effects to the present study were observed in other crops by Gehling et al (2017) in soybean (Glycine max) and Gehling et al (2014) in wheat (Triticum aestivum), as the authors verified that higher concentrations of A. nodosum seaweed extract improved seed germination
Summary
Brazil is among the 15 principal producers of ornamental plants in the world with more than 8 thousand producers cultivating around 350 species and 3 thousand varieties (Schoenmaker, 2019). Floriculture industry is concentrated in the Southeast region, with 45% of the production, 28% of the producers and 21% of the cultivated area in São Paulo State (SEBRAE, 2015; Neves and Pinto, 2015). The ornamental plants production has a high cost-effectiveness if compared to other horticultural crops (Gomes, 2006). Sunflower is an important industrial crop for oil production, in recent years it is seeing an increase in its use as a cut flower and dwarf cultivars as pot plant (Cormenzana, 2001). Commercial cut flower sunflowers occupy 400 ha in the UK, with a farmgate value estimate over £7 millions in 2016 (Hanks, 2017). In Brazil, sunflower and other so-called field flowers that resemble the sunflower are most widely purchased for Easter, being the symbol flower of this date (Junqueira and Peetz, 2017)
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