Extrato aquoso de Gracilaria birdiae como potencial atenuante dos efeitos do déficit hídrico em plantas de tomate-cereja (Solanum lycopersicum var.cerasiforme)

Abstract

Population growth directly influences agriculture, as the world's population grows the need for food will be ever greater leading to many changes in how agriculture is practiced. One of the main causes of limited production of agricultural crops is due to abiotic factors. The shortage represents an immense challenge for agriculture, as freshwater resources have dwindled in recent decades. The investigation of biostimulants derived from macroalgae has shown promise for use as a natural source of nutrients, capable of boosting plant growth, increasing productivity and strengthening tolerance to abiotic stress. The objective of this work was to explore physiological and metabolic changes in concentrations of the aqueous extract obtained from Gracilaria algae. birdiae as a mitigation of the negative effects of moderate water stress on cherry tomato plants. Morphological (length, mass and biomass), physiological (water potential and gas exchange) and metabolic parameters were analyzed using GC-MS (gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry). Based on the results presented, it was possible to observe how the responses of tomato plants exposed to water deficit with the application of G. birdiae extract at different concentrations (0.0g/L; 0.5g/L; 1.0g/L; 2.0g/L). Through the analyses, it was possible to conclude that the extract at 1.0g/L played a significant role in mitigating the adverse effects caused by moderate stress, especially in the parameters of water potential, gas exchange and photosynthetic pigments. With regard to the metabolic profile, several metabolites were identified whose presence or absence contributes to the maintenance of plants exposed to the 1.0g/L extract under drought conditions, approaching the levels observed in non-stressed plants.