Impact of Ascophyllum nodosum extract in soybean seeds treatment and seedling vigor

Abstract

Abstract Seeds treatment with biostimulants for soybean is a promising practice, but there are little studies regarding protocols of bioinputs, such as Ascophyllum nodosum L. seaweed extract. We aimed to evaluate the effect of doses of A. nodosum on soybean seeds treatment, and its impact on germination and seedling vigor. Two tests were conducted, i) germination and seedlings vigor, and ii) emergence and photochemical processes in the field. Six doses of A. nodosum extract (ANE) were tested: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mL kg seeds−1, whose seeds were packed in plastic packaging, adding the corresponding dose and homogenizing, leaving them to rest for 15 minutes. ANE treatment did not influence the first count and seed germination. Soybean seedlings from seeds treated with 5 mL kg−1 ANE had greater growth and biomass of the shoot and root. We observed increase 18% for shoot dry matter with seeds treatment of 5 mL kg−1 ANE compared to untreated seeds. The responses were variable for the emergence speed index, and did not influence the photochemical processes in photosystem II in function at ANE, while the seeds treated with ANE had higher chlorophyll index. In cluster analysis seeds treatment with 5 mL kg−1 ANE was isolated from all doses. ANE presented a biostimulant effect on soybean seedlings, providing better growth and biomass characteristics, being promising in seeds treatment, but further studies are suggested in order to increase information regarding its use protocol for soybeans.