Application of Biostimulants Containing Amino Acids to Tomatoes Could Favor Sustainable Cultivation: Implications for Tyrosine, Lysine, and Methionine

Marina Alfosea-Simón, Silvia Simón-Grao, Ernesto A. Zavala-Gonzalez, Jose María Cámara-Zapata, Inmaculada Simón, Juan José Martínez-Nicolás, Vicente Lidón, Wilbert M. Rodríguez-Ortega and Francisco García-Sánchez
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Marina Alfosea-Simón: Department of Applied Physics, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03300 Orihuela, Spain
Silvia Simón-Grao: Department of Applied Physics, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03300 Orihuela, Spain
Ernesto A. Zavala-Gonzalez: Atlántica Agrícola I+D Department, 03400 Villena, Spain
Jose María Cámara-Zapata: Department of Applied Physics, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03300 Orihuela, Spain
Inmaculada Simón: Department of Applied Physics, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03300 Orihuela, Spain
Juan José Martínez-Nicolás: Department of Plan Production, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03300 Orihuela, Spain
Vicente Lidón: Department of Plan Production, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03300 Orihuela, Spain
Wilbert M. Rodríguez-Ortega: Independent Researcher, Miami, FL 33222, USA
Francisco García-Sánchez: Department of Plant Nutrition, Center of Edaphology and Applied Biology of Segura, 30100 Murcia, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide as per its production and the surface cultivated. The use of biostimulant products plays a fundamental role in mitigating the negative effects of climate change and reducing the use of conventional fertilizers. Many of these products are formulated with amino acids (AAs). This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of the foliar application of tyrosine (Tyr) (15 mM), lysine (Lys) (15 mM), methionine (Met) (15 mM), and a Tyr + Lys + Met (15 mM + 15 mM + 15 mM) mixture on the physiological and metabolic processes, vegetative growth, and nutritional state of Optima variety tomato plants. The results showed that application of the AAs, individually and combined, was beneficial for the growth of the aerial part, net assimilation of CO 2 , and water use efficiency (WUE). Application of Tyr resulted in the best WUE. The metabolomics study revealed that AA treatments increased the concentration of proline, fructose, and glucose, whose role was to stimulate glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. Thus, the plants could have greater reduction power and energy, as well as more carbon molecules for their growth processes.

Keywords: metabolites; mineral nutrients; gas exchange parameters; NMR; organic acids; sugars (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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