Abstract
The effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) of Sargassum myriocystum on germination, growth and biochemical constituents of Vigna mungo was studied. Different concentrations (5%, 10%, 25%, 50% and 75%) of SLF were prepared using distilled water. A total of 100 seeds were soaked for each SLF concentration for a 24-h period and were later placed in various Petri plates and watered regularly. Water-soaked seeds were used as controls. Seed germination was 98% for the 10% SLF soaked seeds. Similarly, shoot length (21.13 cm seedling-1), root length (12.19 cm seedling-1), fresh weight and dry weight (3.910 and 0.320 g seedling-1) recorded at 10% concentration of S. myriocystum treated seedlings were the highest. Besides, the chlorophyll (0.547 mg g-1 fr. wt.) and carotenoid (0.359 mg g-1 fr. wt.) contents in leaves recorded at 10% SLF soaked seedlings were the highest. The 10% SLF treated seedlings showed the highest content of protein (1.898 and 1.508 mg g–1 fr. wt.), amino acid (0.370 and 0.306 mg g–1 fr. wt.), reducing sugar (6.031 and 3.448 mg g-1 fr. wt.), total sugar (8.414 and 7.055 mg mL-1 fr. wt.), alpha-amylase activity (1.403 and 1.380 μg min-1 mg-1 protein) and beta-amylase activity (1.099 and 1.029 μg min-1 mg-1 protein) of shoots and roots respectively. The seaweed extract showed better response at lower concentration while higher concentrations of seaweed extract showed a decreasing trend.
Highlights
Seaweeds are an integral part of the coastal ecosystem and they are known to aid and stimulate growth of vegetables, fruits and other crops (Blunden, 1991; Crouch & Van Staden, 1994; Washington et al, 1999).They contain all major and minor plant nutrients including bio-control properties; they contain organic compounds such as auxins, gibberellins and precursors of ethylene and betaine that impact plant growth (Wu et al, 1997)
Samples soaked in each concentration were taken on 15th day after sowing for measuring growth variables and for analyses of biochemical constituents [chlorophyll content (Arnon, 1949), carotenoid (McKinney, 1941), protein (Lowry et al, 1951), amino acid (Moore & Stein, 1948), reducing and total sugar (Nelson, 1944), α- and β-amylase activities (Bernfeld, 1955)]
The germination percentage increased with the concentration levels up to 10% seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) but later declined
Summary
Seaweeds are an integral part of the coastal ecosystem and they are known to aid and stimulate growth of vegetables, fruits and other crops (Blunden, 1991; Crouch & Van Staden, 1994; Washington et al, 1999). They contain all major and minor plant nutrients including bio-control properties; they contain organic compounds such as auxins, gibberellins and precursors of ethylene and betaine that impact plant growth (Wu et al, 1997). Beneficial effects from the use of seaweed extracts as natural regulators have included
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