title: Physiological role of phenolic biostimulants isolated from brown seaweed Ecklonia maxima on plant growth and development.
abstract: Eckol, a major phenolic compound isolated from brown seaweed significantly enhanced the bulb size and bioactive compounds in greenhouse-grown Eucomis autumnalis. We investigated the effect of eckol and phloroglucinol (PG) (phenolic compounds) isolated from the brown seaweed, Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss on the growth, phytochemical and auxin content in Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. The model plant is a popular medicinal species with increasing conservation concern. Eckol and PG were tested at 10(-5), 10(-6) and 10(-7) M using soil drench applications. After 4 months, growth parameters, phytochemical and auxin content were recorded. When compared to the control, eckol (10(-6) M) significantly improved bulb size, fresh weight and root production while the application of PG (10(-6) M) significantly increased the bulb numbers. However, both compounds had no significant stimulatory effect on aerial organs. Bioactive phytochemicals such as p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids were significantly increased in eckol (10(-5) M) and PG (10(-6) M) treatments, compared to the control. Aerial (1,357 pmol/g DW) and underground (1,474 pmol/g DW) parts of eckol-treated (10(-5) M) plants yielded the highest concentration of indole-3-acetic acid. Overall, eckol and PG elicited a significant influence on the growth and physiological response in E. autumnalis. Considering the medicinal importance of E. autumnalis and the increasing strains on its wild populations, these compounds are potential tools to enhance their cultivation and growth.
authors: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.
authors: Adeyemi O
authors: AO
authors: Aremu
authors: Nqobile A
authors: NA
authors: Masondo
authors: Kannan R R
authors: KR
authors: Rengasamy
authors: Stephen O
authors: SO
authors: Amoo
authors: Jiří
authors: J
authors: Gruz
authors: Ondřej
authors: O
authors: Bíba
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Šubrtová
authors: Aleš
authors: A
authors: Pěnčík
authors: Ondřej
authors: O
authors: Novák
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Doležal
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000032:analysis; D004147:Dioxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis; D063245:Plant Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004147:Dioxins; D005419:Flavonoids; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals; C060311:eckol; D010696:Phloroglucinol