Aqueous Garlic Extract as a Plant Biostimulant Enhances Physiology, Improves Crop Quality and Metabolite Abundance, and Primes the Defense Responses of Receiver Plants

• DOI: 10.3390/app8091505
• Publication Date: 2018-09-03T14:50:51Z
• Authors: Sikandar Hayat; Husain Ahmad; Muhammad Ali; Kashif Hayat; Muhammad Ali Khan; Zhihui Cheng
• Keywords: Allelopathy

Biostimulants are the next-generation choice for sustainable agricultural production and gradually becoming an alternative to synthetic chemicals. Various botanicals proposed exert stimulatory effects, garlic allelochemicals among such botanicals; however, a peer-reviewed scientific evaluation is required understand garlic-derived substances as biostimulants. Current studies were therefore performed identify bioactivity of extract biostimulant improve crop quality, alter its physiological potential, prime defense responses against pathogenic fungal infections. 100 µg mL−1 aqueous extracts (AGE) in consort with 1 mM acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) distilled water control treatment applied eggplant pepper seedlings foliar application fertigation methods. The results revealed growth vegetables improved plant height, number leaves, root growth, fresh dry weight, etc., due AGE ASA applications. Moreover, significant alterations indicated metabolites chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars. Additionally, stimulation antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) peroxidase (POD), well activity these plants, was observed after treatment. Application also exerted priming effects on inducing prior Phytopthora capsici inoculation, treated plants successfully resisted infection through activated systems, probably carotenoid other protectory metabolites. Stress-induced H2O2 content extremely low indicating successful resistance infection.