Seaweed-based Biostimulants: Impacts on Quality and Health Value of Solanaceous Vegetables

Abstract

Biostimulants extracted from nutrient-rich seaweed, which has emerged as a promising sustainable alternative to harnessing the power of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can significantly enhance agricultural productivity and ensure healthier crops, enhancing their growth and longevity belonging to solanaceous vegetables. This review looks closely at the bioactive compounds found in algal-based seaweed extracts, such as Amino acids, phytohormones, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and other micronutrients. This also discuss about how these compounds work in different ways to improve nutrient absorption, hormonal balance, photosynthesis, root structure, and plant defense mechanism. The various applications of these biostimulants have significantly enhanced growth, yield, fruit quality, and the phytochemical composition (Phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and capsaicinoids) of tomatoes, chillies, brinjals, and potatoes. They also cut down on the need of chemical fertilizers, which is good for the environment and the economy because it cuts down on the need for them.