Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress
Abstract Salinity is a significant environmental stress impacting plant growth and metabolism in irrigated areas of arid and semi-arid regions; the use of biostimulants is an effective alternative to enhance plant productivity under saline conditions. This study examined the effects of salinity stre...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99414-w |
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| author | André Lucas Januário Silva Otília Ricardo de Farias Élida Barbosa Corrêa Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda Alberto Soares de Melo Mônica Danielly de Mello Oliveira |
| author_facet | André Lucas Januário Silva Otília Ricardo de Farias Élida Barbosa Corrêa Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda Alberto Soares de Melo Mônica Danielly de Mello Oliveira |
| author_sort | André Lucas Januário Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Salinity is a significant environmental stress impacting plant growth and metabolism in irrigated areas of arid and semi-arid regions; the use of biostimulants is an effective alternative to enhance plant productivity under saline conditions. This study examined the effects of salinity stress by applying various electrical conductivities (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m− 1) of irrigation water combined with foliar application of the in combination with foliar application of biostimulant VIUSID Agro (0, 0.3, and 0.6 mL L− 1) on the growth, productivity, physiological, and biochemical responses of bell pepper plants in a greenhouse. Conducted in a factorial design with a completely randomized layout and five replications, and the results indicated that salinity caused a significant reduction in growth, decreased chlorophyll levels, and increased malondialdehyde levels, osmoregulators, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Plants treated with biostimulant demonstrated relatively superior growth parameters, such as plant height, dry matter, leaf area and number of leaves, as well as fruit quality, such as fruit size, firmness, ascorbic acid and soluble solids. Both doses of the biostimulant effectively mitigated the effects of salt stress by maintaining higher chlorophyll levels (15% increase), enhancing photosynthetic performance (20% increase), and improving fruit size and quality, as well as leaf water status, ultimately leading to better crop performance. The biochemical mechanisms through which these effects occur include enhanced osmoregulation and increased antioxidant activity. The foliar application of the biostimulant was an effective strategy to enhance the tolerance of bell pepper plants under salt stress conditions and can serve as a sustainable solution for agricultural production in saline irrigation water. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-524db90786a34aeea6760d1978fe32ff2025-08-20T01:47:32ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-99414-wBiostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stressAndré Lucas Januário Silva0Otília Ricardo de Farias1Élida Barbosa Corrêa2Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda3Alberto Soares de Melo4Mônica Danielly de Mello Oliveira5Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em AgronomiaUniversidade Federal da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em AgronomiaPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual da ParaíbaAgricultural Engineering Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Agricultura Sustentável no Semiárido Tropical (INCTAgris), Universidade Federal do CearáPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual da ParaíbaPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual da ParaíbaAbstract Salinity is a significant environmental stress impacting plant growth and metabolism in irrigated areas of arid and semi-arid regions; the use of biostimulants is an effective alternative to enhance plant productivity under saline conditions. This study examined the effects of salinity stress by applying various electrical conductivities (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m− 1) of irrigation water combined with foliar application of the in combination with foliar application of biostimulant VIUSID Agro (0, 0.3, and 0.6 mL L− 1) on the growth, productivity, physiological, and biochemical responses of bell pepper plants in a greenhouse. Conducted in a factorial design with a completely randomized layout and five replications, and the results indicated that salinity caused a significant reduction in growth, decreased chlorophyll levels, and increased malondialdehyde levels, osmoregulators, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Plants treated with biostimulant demonstrated relatively superior growth parameters, such as plant height, dry matter, leaf area and number of leaves, as well as fruit quality, such as fruit size, firmness, ascorbic acid and soluble solids. Both doses of the biostimulant effectively mitigated the effects of salt stress by maintaining higher chlorophyll levels (15% increase), enhancing photosynthetic performance (20% increase), and improving fruit size and quality, as well as leaf water status, ultimately leading to better crop performance. The biochemical mechanisms through which these effects occur include enhanced osmoregulation and increased antioxidant activity. The foliar application of the biostimulant was an effective strategy to enhance the tolerance of bell pepper plants under salt stress conditions and can serve as a sustainable solution for agricultural production in saline irrigation water.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99414-wCapsicum annuumFruit qualityOsmoprotectionProductivitySalinity |
| spellingShingle | André Lucas Januário Silva Otília Ricardo de Farias Élida Barbosa Corrêa Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda Alberto Soares de Melo Mônica Danielly de Mello Oliveira Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress Scientific Reports Capsicum annuum Fruit quality Osmoprotection Productivity Salinity |
| title | Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress |
| title_full | Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress |
| title_fullStr | Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress |
| title_short | Biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities, improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress |
| title_sort | biostimulant modulate the physiological and biochemical activities improving agronomic characteristics of bell pepper plants under salt stress |
| topic | Capsicum annuum Fruit quality Osmoprotection Productivity Salinity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99414-w |
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