Biostimulant alleviates abiotic stress of mango grown in semiarid environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT The shoot maturation phase is important for growing mango tree because it precedes the floral induction, when plants are under stress caused by high temperatures and low water availability, that could be reduced by using plant biostimulant. Thus, the current study aimed to use a plant biostimulant containing yeast extract and amino acids to alleviate abiotic stress in mango plants, cv. Tommy Atkins, grown in semiarid environment. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five treatments, five repetitions and five plants per plot. Treatments consisted of: T1) two foliar sprays with [biostimulant + KCl] + two foliar sprays with K2SO4; T2) No biostimulant and four foliar sprays with K2SO4; T3) three individual foliar sprays with biostimulant and one foliar spray with K2SO4; T4) two foliar sprays with biostimulant and two foliar sprays with K2SO4; and T5) two foliar sprays with [biostimulant + K2SO4] + one foliar spray with K2SO4. The variables evaluated were: i) leaf concentrations of soluble carbohydrates, starch, amino acids and proline; and ii) enzymatic activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. The foliar spray with biostimulant during the branch maturation phase of mango trees grown in tropical semiarid environment alleviated plant abiotic stress. Three foliar biostimulant sprays and one K2SO4spray are recommended to alleviate mango plant abiotic stress in semiarid environment.