Alfalfa plant-derived biostimulant stimulate short-term growth of salt stressed Zea mays L. plants.

Background & Aims The effects of an alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa L.) hydrolysate-based biostimulant (EM) containing triacontanol (TRIA) and indole-3- acetic acid (IAA) were tested in salt-stressed maize plants. Methods Plants were grown for 2 weeks in the absence of NaCl or in the presence (25, 75 and 150 mM). On the 12th day, plants were supplied for 48 h with 1.0 mg L−1 EM or 11.2 μM TRIA. Results EM and TRIA stimulated the growth and nitrogen assimilation of control plants to a similar degree, while NaCl reduced plant growth, SPAD index and protein content. EM or TRIA increased plant biomass under salinity conditions. Furthermore, EM induced the activity of enzymes functioning in nitrogen metabolism. The activity of antioxidant enzymes and the synthesis of phenolics were induced by salinity, but decreased after EM treatment. The enhancement of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity and gene expression by EM was consistent with the increase of flavonoids. Conclusion The present study proves that the EM increases plant biomass even when plants are grown under salinity conditions. This was likely because EM stimulated plant nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant systems. Therefore, EM may be proposed as bioactive product in agriculture to help plants overcome stress situations.