Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions
Although clear evidence for benefits in crop production is partly missing, several natural compounds and microorganisms have been introduced to the market as biostimulants. They are supposed to enhance nutrient efficiency and availability in the rhizosphere, reduce abiotic stress, and improve crop q...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1161 |
| _version_ | 1797531230539874304 |
|---|---|
| author | Roland Gerhards Fructueuse N. Ouidoh André Adjogboto Vodéa Armand Pascal Avohou Berteulot Latus Sètondji Dossounon Alexandra Koupamba Ditti Adisso Alexandra Heyn Miriam Messelhäuser Hans-Joachim Santel Horst Oebel |
| author_facet | Roland Gerhards Fructueuse N. Ouidoh André Adjogboto Vodéa Armand Pascal Avohou Berteulot Latus Sètondji Dossounon Alexandra Koupamba Ditti Adisso Alexandra Heyn Miriam Messelhäuser Hans-Joachim Santel Horst Oebel |
| author_sort | Roland Gerhards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although clear evidence for benefits in crop production is partly missing, several natural compounds and microorganisms have been introduced to the market as biostimulants. They are supposed to enhance nutrient efficiency and availability in the rhizosphere, reduce abiotic stress, and improve crop quality parameters. Biostimulants often derive from natural compounds, such as microorganisms, algae, and plant extracts. In this study, the commercial plant extract-based biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> was tested in two field experiments with maize in the communities of Banikoara and Matéri in Northern Benin and six pot experiments (four with maize and two with winter barley) at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Maize was grown under nutrient deficiency, drought, and weed competition, and winter barley was stressed by the herbicide Luximo (cinmethylin). ComCat<sup>®</sup> was applied at half, full, and double the recommended field rate (50, 100, and 200 g ha<sup>−1</sup>) on the stressed and unstressed control plants as leaf or seed treatment. The experiments were conducted in randomized complete block designs with four replications. The above-ground biomass and yield data of one experiment in Benin were collected. The biostimulant did not promote maize and winter barley biomass production of the unstressed plants. When exposed to stress, ComCat<sup>®</sup> resulted only in one out of eight experiments in higher barley biomass compared to the stressed treatment without ComCat<sup>®</sup> application. There was a reduced phytotoxic effect of cinmethylin after seed treatment with ComCat<sup>®</sup>. Crop response to ComCat<sup>®</sup> was independent of the application rate. Basic and applied studies are needed to investigate the response of crops to biostimulants and their mechanisms of action in the plants before they should be used in practical farming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:40:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47849c80c6ed42bb8d156955cfad45da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:40:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-47849c80c6ed42bb8d156955cfad45da2023-11-21T22:57:41ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-06-01116116110.3390/agronomy11061161Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress ConditionsRoland Gerhards0Fructueuse N. Ouidoh1André Adjogboto2Vodéa Armand Pascal Avohou3Berteulot Latus Sètondji Dossounon4Alexandra Koupamba Ditti Adisso5Alexandra Heyn6Miriam Messelhäuser7Hans-Joachim Santel8Horst Oebel9Institute of Phytomedicine, Department of Weed Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyRéseau d’Appui au Développement (ReAD) NGO, Cotonou 04 BP 344, BeninRéseau d’Appui au Développement (ReAD) NGO, Cotonou 04 BP 344, BeninRéseau d’Appui au Développement (ReAD) NGO, Cotonou 04 BP 344, BeninRéseau d’Appui au Développement (ReAD) NGO, Cotonou 04 BP 344, BeninDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), RBT-WAP-/GIC WAP, Cotonou 08 BP 1132, BeninInstitute of Phytomedicine, Department of Weed Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Phytomedicine, Department of Weed Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Phytomedicine, Department of Weed Science, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), RBT-WAP-/GIC WAP, Cotonou 08 BP 1132, BeninAlthough clear evidence for benefits in crop production is partly missing, several natural compounds and microorganisms have been introduced to the market as biostimulants. They are supposed to enhance nutrient efficiency and availability in the rhizosphere, reduce abiotic stress, and improve crop quality parameters. Biostimulants often derive from natural compounds, such as microorganisms, algae, and plant extracts. In this study, the commercial plant extract-based biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> was tested in two field experiments with maize in the communities of Banikoara and Matéri in Northern Benin and six pot experiments (four with maize and two with winter barley) at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Maize was grown under nutrient deficiency, drought, and weed competition, and winter barley was stressed by the herbicide Luximo (cinmethylin). ComCat<sup>®</sup> was applied at half, full, and double the recommended field rate (50, 100, and 200 g ha<sup>−1</sup>) on the stressed and unstressed control plants as leaf or seed treatment. The experiments were conducted in randomized complete block designs with four replications. The above-ground biomass and yield data of one experiment in Benin were collected. The biostimulant did not promote maize and winter barley biomass production of the unstressed plants. When exposed to stress, ComCat<sup>®</sup> resulted only in one out of eight experiments in higher barley biomass compared to the stressed treatment without ComCat<sup>®</sup> application. There was a reduced phytotoxic effect of cinmethylin after seed treatment with ComCat<sup>®</sup>. Crop response to ComCat<sup>®</sup> was independent of the application rate. Basic and applied studies are needed to investigate the response of crops to biostimulants and their mechanisms of action in the plants before they should be used in practical farming.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1161biocontrolbiofertilizersnatural compoundsplant extractsplant growth stimulant |
| spellingShingle | Roland Gerhards Fructueuse N. Ouidoh André Adjogboto Vodéa Armand Pascal Avohou Berteulot Latus Sètondji Dossounon Alexandra Koupamba Ditti Adisso Alexandra Heyn Miriam Messelhäuser Hans-Joachim Santel Horst Oebel Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions Agronomy biocontrol biofertilizers natural compounds plant extracts plant growth stimulant |
| title | Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions |
| title_full | Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions |
| title_short | Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat<sup>®</sup> under Stress Conditions |
| title_sort | crop response to leaf and seed applications of the biostimulant comcat sup r sup under stress conditions |
| topic | biocontrol biofertilizers natural compounds plant extracts plant growth stimulant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1161 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rolandgerhards cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT fructueusenouidoh cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT andreadjogboto cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT vodeaarmandpascalavohou cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT berteulotlatussetondjidossounon cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT alexandrakoupambadittiadisso cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT alexandraheyn cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT miriammesselhauser cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT hansjoachimsantel cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions AT horstoebel cropresponsetoleafandseedapplicationsofthebiostimulantcomcatsupsupunderstressconditions |