Articles
Growth and phytochemical response of lemon balm to biostimulants: toward improved functional beverages
Article number
1466_47
Pages
387 – 396
Language
English
Abstract
Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) is a medicinal and aromatic plant valued for its therapeutic properties, primarily attributed to its rich rosmarinic acid content.
This study investigated the effects of three commercially available biostimulants, namely Kelpak® (seaweed-derived), Mobiostim (moringa-based), and Fractal-GRO (containing fulvic acid and mycorrhizal organisms), on the growth, photosynthetic pigment composition, and rosmarinic acid accumulation in in vitro regenerated M. officinalis under controlled environmental conditions.
Plantlets were treated with varying concentrations of each biostimulant via foliar application, and growth parameters, pigment levels, and rosmarinic acid content were quantified after six weeks.
Biostimulant application did not significantly enhance plant height, leaf number, or fresh biomass, suggesting limited influence under controlled conditions.
However, notable effects were observed on photosynthetic pigments and secondary metabolite accumulation.
Mobiostim (1:10 dilution) significantly increased chlorophyll content, while Fractal-GRO and Kelpak® treatments enhanced carotenoid levels, indicating differential modulation of photosynthetic pathways.
Mobiostim (1:20) and Kelpak® (1:200) treatments yielded the highest rosmarinic acid concentrations (396.19 and 393.01 mg 100 g‑1 dry weight, respectively), representing a 79% increase relative to the control.
Biostimulant-specific response was observed with lower concentrations of Kelpak® and Mobiostim promoting rosmarinic acid biosynthesis, likely via activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway while Fractal-GRO treatments resulted in lower rosmarinic acid levels.
These findings highlight the formulation-specific and concentration-dependent nature of biostimulant efficacy and support the use of moringa- and seaweed-based biostimulants to enhance phytochemical quality in medicinal plants.
The study contributes to sustainable cultivation strategies for M. officinalis and underscores the need for further research on biostimulant mechanisms under varying environmental conditions.
This study investigated the effects of three commercially available biostimulants, namely Kelpak® (seaweed-derived), Mobiostim (moringa-based), and Fractal-GRO (containing fulvic acid and mycorrhizal organisms), on the growth, photosynthetic pigment composition, and rosmarinic acid accumulation in in vitro regenerated M. officinalis under controlled environmental conditions.
Plantlets were treated with varying concentrations of each biostimulant via foliar application, and growth parameters, pigment levels, and rosmarinic acid content were quantified after six weeks.
Biostimulant application did not significantly enhance plant height, leaf number, or fresh biomass, suggesting limited influence under controlled conditions.
However, notable effects were observed on photosynthetic pigments and secondary metabolite accumulation.
Mobiostim (1:10 dilution) significantly increased chlorophyll content, while Fractal-GRO and Kelpak® treatments enhanced carotenoid levels, indicating differential modulation of photosynthetic pathways.
Mobiostim (1:20) and Kelpak® (1:200) treatments yielded the highest rosmarinic acid concentrations (396.19 and 393.01 mg 100 g‑1 dry weight, respectively), representing a 79% increase relative to the control.
Biostimulant-specific response was observed with lower concentrations of Kelpak® and Mobiostim promoting rosmarinic acid biosynthesis, likely via activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway while Fractal-GRO treatments resulted in lower rosmarinic acid levels.
These findings highlight the formulation-specific and concentration-dependent nature of biostimulant efficacy and support the use of moringa- and seaweed-based biostimulants to enhance phytochemical quality in medicinal plants.
The study contributes to sustainable cultivation strategies for M. officinalis and underscores the need for further research on biostimulant mechanisms under varying environmental conditions.
Publication
Authors
M.B. Mabotja, A.O. Aremu, O. Ruzvidzo, S.O. Amoo
Keywords
fulvic acid, isothiocyanates, rosmarinic acid, seaweed extract, photosynthetic pigment, mycorrhizal fungi, sustainable cultivation
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