title: Production of a carob enzymatic extract: potential use as a biofertilizer.
abstract: In this paper, we describe a biological process that converts carob germ (CG), a proteinic vegetable by-product, into a water-soluble enzymatic hydrolyzate extract (CGHE). The chemical and physical properties are also described. The conversion is done using a proteolytic enzyme mixture. The main component of CGHE extracted by the enzymatic process is protein (68%), in the form of peptides and free amino acids, having a high content of glutamine and arginine, and a minor component of phytohormones, which are also extracted and solubilized from the CG. We have also compared its potential fertilizer/biostimulant capacity on growth, flowering, and fruiting of tomato plants (Licopericon pimpinellifolium cv. Momotaro) with that of an animal enzymatic protein hydrolyzate. CGHE had a significantly beneficial impact, most notably regarding the greater plant height, number of flowers per plant, and number of fruits per plant. This could be due primarily to its phytohormonal action.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología y Toxicología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González sn, 41012 Sevilla, Spain. parrado@us.es <parrado@us.es>
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parrado
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Friaza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tejada
mesh_terms: D005308:Fertilizers; D005685:Galactans; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000378:metabolism; D008351:Mannans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums; C017471:locust bean gum