Marine Algal Extract as a Biostimulant to Improve Tolerance to Salinity in Lettuce Plants

Authors

  • Dhouha Aloui Horticultural Science Laboratory, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia. University of Carthage, Tunisia LR13AGR01. Department of Horticultural Sciences and Vegetable Crops, High Institute of Agronomy of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
  • Fatma Kalleli Horticultural Science Laboratory, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia. University of Carthage, Tunisia LR13AGR01. Department of Horticultural Sciences and Vegetable Crops, High Institute of Agronomy of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
  • Mahmoud M’Hamdi Horticultural Science Laboratory, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia. University of Carthage, Tunisia LR13AGR01. Department of Horticultural Sciences and Vegetable Crops, High Institute of Agronomy of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
  • Mariem Manaa Department of Horticultural Sciences and Vegetable Crops, High Institute of Agronomy of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
  • Ghassen Abid Laboratory of Legumes, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.
  • Chahine Karmous Laboratory of Genetics and Cereal Breeding, National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia, Carthage University, LR14 AGR01, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2023.3199

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of marine algal extract as foliar spray on growth, physiological, mineral composition, different osmoprotectant levels, various parts of antioxidant system, and gene expression of greenhouse lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants grown under saline conditions (50mM and 100mM). Through LC/MS analysis, the algal extract's phenolic composition was determined by its abundance in quinic acid, gallic acid, kaempferol and luteolin. The concentration of leaf proline increased while the biomass production, chlorophyll fluorescence, SPAD index and mineral composition all decreased as a result of salt stress. The salt-stress tolerance mechanism in lettuce involved the expression of genes that encode antioxidant enzymes, including LsSOD, LsCAT, and LsAPX, in both stressed and control plants, which demonstrates their important roles. The findings revealed that plants that were treated with marine algal extract had a greater ability to handle salt challenge, as evidenced by a significant (p < 0.05) increase in plant growth, SPAD index, Fv/Fm ratio, a better nutritional status in addinto a better osmoprotection against salt stress. Malondialdehyde level, Hydrogen peroxide and stability index levels were significantly decreased. Furthermore, the antioxidant system saw a significant improvement, as demonstrated by the increased activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) under moderate stress conditions (50mM) and more abundant LsCAT transcripts in the stressed plants.  Overall, our findings indicate that marine algal extract appears to be an effective biostimulant product for treating lettuce under saline conditions.

Keywords: antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll fluorescence, gene expression, growth performance, Lactuca sativa L., marine algal extract, mineral composition, osmoprotectants.

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Published

2023-12-23

How to Cite

Aloui, D., F. Kalleli, M. M’Hamdi, M. Manaa, G. Abid, and C. Karmous. “Marine Algal Extract As a Biostimulant to Improve Tolerance to Salinity in Lettuce Plants”. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, vol. 35, no. 12, Dec. 2023, doi:10.9755/ejfa.2023.3199.

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Section

Research Article