ENHANCEMENT OF SUGAR BEET SEED GERMINATION, PLANT GROWTH, PERFORMANCE AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPONENTS AS CONTRIBUTED BY ALGAL EXTRACELLULAR PRODUCTS

Abstract

Effect of culture filtrates of nine algal strains belonging to Nostocales and Chlorellales on seeds germination, growth and certain biochemical characteristics of sugar beet was tested for their contents of Indole acetic, gibberellic and abscisic acids. Plant seeds soaked in algal culture filtrates for 24 hrs showed maximum germination percentage when soaked in filtrates of Spirulina platensis (72.9%), Anabaena oryzae (70.0%), Oscillatoria sp (69.8%) and Nostoc muscorum (68.7%) over the counterparts which were soaked in water. Greenhouse pot experiments were conducted during the winter growing seasons of 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 to investigate the effect of algal culture filtrates application methods as phytohormones source on growth stimulation and yield quality of sugar beet. Results revealed that different application methods had no significant effect on leaves and roots dry weight as well as total soluble solids, sucrose and purity percentages in root juice during the two seasons, while the positive significancy was conducted by the treatments of Nostoc muscorum, Anabaena oryzae, Spirulina platensis, Nostoc humifusum, Anabaena flous aquae and Phormedium fragile culture filtrates. The combination of seed-presoaking and foliar application method significantly increased leaves chlorophyll contents, as well as, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium percentages in roots over the control in both seasons.