The Influence of Applications of Bio-Inputs Derived from Macroalgae and Bacteria on a Phaseolus vulgaris L. Crop.

BACKGROUND: The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), is one of the most relevant legumes worldwide, as a source of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and biologically important minerals. In recent decades, bean production increased significantly, especially in developing countries, where the availability of animal protein is often in short supply. However, a large portion of this agricultural production has been achieved in an unsustainable manner, through the intensive use of non-renewable agrochemicals, which in both the short and long term negatively affect soil fertility. To address this problem, the use of sustainable and renewable bio-inputs derived from macroalgae, and microorganisms may be amongst solutions required. Extracts of seaweeds have been shown to be biodegradable and non-toxic both for treated plants and consumers. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the application of three bio-inputs made from different organisms on a common bean variety (BRSMG Realce) by analysing plant physiology and productivity, pod morphology, nutritional and mineral characterization of the bean. The study also aimed to evaluate the length of BRSMG Realce crop life cycle and compare its nutritional value with other commonly consumed varieties. METHODS: Six treatments were performed: T0 - Control; T1 - Calmar® (soil - 100 kg/ha); T2 - Profertil® (foliar - 0.5%(v/v)); T3 - Albit® (leaf - 0.02%(v/v)); T4 - Calmar® ((100 kg/ha) + Profertil® (0.5%(v/v)); T5 - Calmar® ((100 kg/ha) + Albit® (0.02% (v/v)). RESULTS: The leaf chlorophyll index revealed significant increases for T2, T4 and T5, compared to control. In general, the treatments related to the pods morphology showed significant increases in the length/width ratio. In terms of productivity, significant increases were found with T1, T4 and T5. In the analysis of the nutritional value of dried beans there were significant increases in the contents of fiber in T1, protein in T4 and T5 and carbohydrates for T1, T2 and T3. For mineral composition, there were increases in the phosphorus content of T2, T4 and T5 beans. When the cooked beans were analysed, T4 and T1 produced a greater amount of ash and proteins, as compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: The applications of bio-inputs in the bean crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) exerted several positive and significant effects, mainly on the CCI, productivity, pod morphology as well as cooked bean nutritional values. It was verified that BRSMG Reakce has the potential to be included in the Portuguese diet.

Seaweed-Based Products and Mushroom ß-Glucan as Tomato Plant Immunological Inducers.

The effects of the abiotic inducers ß-glucan, extracted from Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), BFIICaB® (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and BKPSGII® (K. alvarezii X Sargassum sp.) on tomato plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) were evaluated through the activity of enzymes related to the induction of resistance at 5 and 10 days after inoculation (DAI). Tomato plants (21 days old, after germination) were inoculated with the pathogen conidia suspension and sprayed with 0.3% aqueous solutions of the inducers. The activities of the enzymes ß-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were evaluated in fresh tomato leaves collected at 5 and 10 DAI. In all treatments, peroxidase showed the highest enzymatic activity, followed by ß-1,3-glucanase and PAL. Between the seaweeds, the inducers extracted from the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii (BFIICaB®) promoted the highest enzymatic activity. The exception was BKPSGII® (K. alvarezii X Sargassum sp.) where the influence of Sargassum sp. resulted in higher peroxidase activity (4.48 Δab600 mg P-1 min-1) in the leaves, 10 DAI. Both the red seaweed K. alvarezii and the brown alga Sargassum sp. promoted activities of ß-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and PAL.

Crescimento de pitaia vermelha com adubação orgânica e granulado bioclástico / Growth of red pitaya with organic fertilizer and calcified seaweed

Objetivou-se com o trabalho avaliar o crescimento de pitaia vermelha (Hylocereus undatus) submetida à adubação orgânica e à aplicação de granulado bioclástico. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com oito adubações: testemunha, esterco de curral, cama de frango, granulado bioclástico, esterco de curral + cama de frango, esterco de curral + granulado bioclástico, cama de frango + granulado bioclástico e esterco de curral + cama de frango + granulado bioclástico, aplicados a cada três meses, com três blocos, e a parcela experimental composta por quatro plantas. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas no comprimento e no número de cladódios principais. Houve diferença significativa no número de cladódios laterais retirados e de cladódios emitidos acima do suporte. A adubação com esterco de curral + cama de frango + granulado bioclástico favoreceu o crescimento de plantas de pitaia vermelha.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth of red pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) subjected to organic fertilization and calcified seaweed application. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with eight fertilization: control, cattle manure, chicken manure, calcified seaweed, cattle manure + chicken manure, cattle manure + calcified seaweed, chicken manure + calcified seaweed and cattle manure + chicken manure + calcified seaweed, applied every three months, with three replications and plot consisted of four plants. There were no significant differences in the length and in the number of central cladodes. There were significant differences in the number of side cladodes removed and in cladodes above the support. Fertilization with cattle manure + chicken manure + calcified seaweed favored the growth of red pitaya.