Influence of Brown Seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) Extract on the Morpho-Physiological Parameters of Melon, Cucumber, and Tomato Plants

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the impact of brown seaweed extract (Ecklonia maxima) on the morphology and physiology of three different plant species. We conducted experiments using two types of fertilizers: an artificial fertilizer (0.1 g/L) and a biological extract of brown seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) at two concentrations (C1 at 1 mL/L and C2 at 2.5 mL/L). For melon, the application of C1 resulted in significant improvements in photosynthesis parameters, total chlorophyll content, and overall plant growth. When C2 was applied, it further enhanced these parameters, leading to a notable increase in shoot phytomass. In the case of cucumber, C1 led to increased resource allocation towards stems and leaves. Conversely, C2 increased the number of green leaves and contributed to higher shoot phytomass. For tomato plants, the application of C1 resulted in a slight increase in photosynthesis, but it did not significantly impact leaf growth. On the other hand, C2 induced a modest increase in photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and root growth. In summary, our findings indicate that brown seaweed extract has a discernible influence on the physiology of the studied plants. However, the specific effects on resource allocation largely depend on the plant species and the concentration of the extract applied.