Articles
Utility of biostimulants in ornamental horticulture
Article number
1417_9
Pages
73 – 78
Language
English
Abstract
Biostimulants have become an invaluable tool in modern agriculture, offering numerous benefits that enhance plant growth and yield, nutrient use efficiency, stress resilience, and overall quality.
The non-microbial biostimulants are organic substances that optimize plant performance and crop yield across various agricultural sectors, even when applied at a low dose.
Microbial biostimulants refer to the plant growth promoting bacteria or PGPB. A primary goal of applying biostimulants is their ability to enhance nutrient uptake and utilization by plants.
This can be directly through improving nutrient assimilation pathways or by stimulating root development.
While this is highly relevant for commodity crops, the value in the case of ornamental crop production relates to the reduction in nutrient losses in the environment.
More important for the ornamental industry is the use of biostimulants to enhance the tolerance to environmental stressors such as drought, salinity, and adverse temperature conditions.
Biostimulants can also boost specific biochemical processes underlying plant development, including flowering, photosynthesis, and expression of a diverse set of valuable traits such as colour and odor.
In general, the mechanism of action of most biostimulants is poorly understood, limiting their rationalized use in agriculture.
Biostimulants are viewed as an innovative tool for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing the reliance on chemical inputs.
By harnessing natural processes of plant-microbe interactions and organic nutrient cycling, biostimulants offer a more environmentally friendly approach to agriculture, minimizing adverse impacts on soil health, water, and ecosystem quality.
The non-microbial biostimulants are organic substances that optimize plant performance and crop yield across various agricultural sectors, even when applied at a low dose.
Microbial biostimulants refer to the plant growth promoting bacteria or PGPB. A primary goal of applying biostimulants is their ability to enhance nutrient uptake and utilization by plants.
This can be directly through improving nutrient assimilation pathways or by stimulating root development.
While this is highly relevant for commodity crops, the value in the case of ornamental crop production relates to the reduction in nutrient losses in the environment.
More important for the ornamental industry is the use of biostimulants to enhance the tolerance to environmental stressors such as drought, salinity, and adverse temperature conditions.
Biostimulants can also boost specific biochemical processes underlying plant development, including flowering, photosynthesis, and expression of a diverse set of valuable traits such as colour and odor.
In general, the mechanism of action of most biostimulants is poorly understood, limiting their rationalized use in agriculture.
Biostimulants are viewed as an innovative tool for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing the reliance on chemical inputs.
By harnessing natural processes of plant-microbe interactions and organic nutrient cycling, biostimulants offer a more environmentally friendly approach to agriculture, minimizing adverse impacts on soil health, water, and ecosystem quality.
Authors
D. Geelen
Keywords
biomolecule, mode of action, plant growth promotion
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
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