Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity
Hydroponics is a viable alternative to open field cultivation for year-round vegetable production in urban areas. However, the total dependence on external chemical inputs (fertilizers) makes these systems often less environmentally sustainable. In this perspective, the use of biostimulants could re...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/5/409 |
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| author | Michele Ciriello Luigi Formisano Christophe El-Nakhel Giandomenico Corrado Youssef Rouphael |
| author_facet | Michele Ciriello Luigi Formisano Christophe El-Nakhel Giandomenico Corrado Youssef Rouphael |
| author_sort | Michele Ciriello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydroponics is a viable alternative to open field cultivation for year-round vegetable production in urban areas. However, the total dependence on external chemical inputs (fertilizers) makes these systems often less environmentally sustainable. In this perspective, the use of biostimulants could represent a valuable and eco-friendly tool to limit the excessive use of fertilizers without a negative impact on the yield. To this end, our work aimed to evaluate the productive and physiological response of two cultivars of ‘Genovese’ basil (Eleonora and Italiano Classico) for the industrial production of “pesto” grown for 22 days in two nutrient solutions with different electrical conductivity (1 and 2 dS m<sup>−1</sup>) and the application of two doses of protein hydrolysates (0.15- and 0.30-mL L<sup>−1</sup> of Trainer<sup>®</sup> in the nutrient solution). The mineral profile was evaluated by ion chromatography coupled with a conductivity detector, while pigments were evaluated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Generally, the nutrient solution concentration did not significantly affect the fresh yield of the two cultivars tested. On the contrary, the use of the maximum dose of biostimulant (BT<sub>2</sub> = 0.30 mL L<sup>−1</sup> of nutrient solution) increased fresh yield, leaf area, and ACO<sub>2</sub> by 20.7, 27.5, and 17.6%, respectively, compared with the control. Using the lowest dose of biostimulant (BT<sub>1</sub> = 0.15 mL L<sup>−1</sup> of the nutrient solution) reduced nitrate by 6.6% compared with the control. The results obtained showed that basil cultivation in a floating raft system combined with biostimulant in the nutrient solution could be an excellent solution to improve productivity, reduce nitrate, and cut fertilizer costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8c6cbf0ae314dd0937a128c7b203e89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8c6cbf0ae314dd0937a128c7b203e892023-11-23T11:16:50ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242022-05-018540910.3390/horticulturae8050409Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical ConductivityMichele Ciriello0Luigi Formisano1Christophe El-Nakhel2Giandomenico Corrado3Youssef Rouphael4Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyHydroponics is a viable alternative to open field cultivation for year-round vegetable production in urban areas. However, the total dependence on external chemical inputs (fertilizers) makes these systems often less environmentally sustainable. In this perspective, the use of biostimulants could represent a valuable and eco-friendly tool to limit the excessive use of fertilizers without a negative impact on the yield. To this end, our work aimed to evaluate the productive and physiological response of two cultivars of ‘Genovese’ basil (Eleonora and Italiano Classico) for the industrial production of “pesto” grown for 22 days in two nutrient solutions with different electrical conductivity (1 and 2 dS m<sup>−1</sup>) and the application of two doses of protein hydrolysates (0.15- and 0.30-mL L<sup>−1</sup> of Trainer<sup>®</sup> in the nutrient solution). The mineral profile was evaluated by ion chromatography coupled with a conductivity detector, while pigments were evaluated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Generally, the nutrient solution concentration did not significantly affect the fresh yield of the two cultivars tested. On the contrary, the use of the maximum dose of biostimulant (BT<sub>2</sub> = 0.30 mL L<sup>−1</sup> of nutrient solution) increased fresh yield, leaf area, and ACO<sub>2</sub> by 20.7, 27.5, and 17.6%, respectively, compared with the control. Using the lowest dose of biostimulant (BT<sub>1</sub> = 0.15 mL L<sup>−1</sup> of the nutrient solution) reduced nitrate by 6.6% compared with the control. The results obtained showed that basil cultivation in a floating raft system combined with biostimulant in the nutrient solution could be an excellent solution to improve productivity, reduce nitrate, and cut fertilizer costs.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/5/409<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.biostimulantsfloating raft systemnutrient solution concentrationion chromatographynitrate |
| spellingShingle | Michele Ciriello Luigi Formisano Christophe El-Nakhel Giandomenico Corrado Youssef Rouphael Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity Horticulturae <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. biostimulants floating raft system nutrient solution concentration ion chromatography nitrate |
| title | Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity |
| title_full | Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity |
| title_fullStr | Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity |
| title_short | Biostimulatory Action of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate on Morphological Traits, Photosynthetic Parameters, and Mineral Composition of Two Basil Cultivars Grown Hydroponically under Variable Electrical Conductivity |
| title_sort | biostimulatory action of a plant derived protein hydrolysate on morphological traits photosynthetic parameters and mineral composition of two basil cultivars grown hydroponically under variable electrical conductivity |
| topic | <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. biostimulants floating raft system nutrient solution concentration ion chromatography nitrate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/5/409 |
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