Work

Plant extract improves quality traits of green and red lettuce cultivars

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: ratio significantly increased in green cultivar after the first application (from 0.80 to 0.84) and at harvest (from 0.79 to 0.84). The PI showed a slight but not significant increase at the same time points. On the contrary, the PI was significantly higher in red cultivar after the third application (+9.4 %). Interestingly, the borage extract induced a significant decrease of nitrate accumulation in lettuce leaves of the red cultivar (from 4149.7 to 2711.6 mg/kg, -34 %). At the same time a positive variation of anthocyanin content was observed in red lettuce (+24.7 %). The application of biostimulant products might improve the quality of some lettuce varieties as regards the accumulation of metabolites useful for the plant to overcome stress conditions and fundamental in human healthy diet, increasing the leaf concentration of Ca, Na, and Mg.

Source: Heliyon

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39224

Authors: Giulia Franzoni, Antonio Ferrante

Institutions: University of Milan, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Language: English

Topic: Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,100