Biostimulation of Moringa oleifera Lam. seedlings with freshwater microalgae extract (Spirulina)

The present study investigates the biostimulatory effect of extracts of the freshwater microalgae Spirulina on Moringa oleifera Lam. seedlings. There is a growing need to find sustainable alternatives in agriculture, especially for Moringa cultivation, which is known for its nutritional value and biomass production. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of Spirulina extracts to the growth, development, and antioxidant components of M. oleifera seedlings grown in a greenhouse. The effect of the extract on plant and root morphology, leaf development indicators, and photosynthetic pigment content was evaluated using complete randomized blocks with four treatments and four replicates. The results showed that biostimulated seedlings with 2, 4, and 6 g L-1 Spirulina grew 13.57, 7, and 9% more compared to the absolute control (AC) (P≤0.01), respectively. The Gompertz, Logistics, and Bertalanffy models suggest that Moringa seedlings invest energy reserves from their cotyledons in the development of aerial organs, and this is compensated by active growth. Likewise, the experimental treatments increased the concentration of α, β, and total chlorophyll by 7, 16.6, and 11.4% compared to AC (P≤0.05). The application of Spirulina represents an effective strategy to optimize the growth of Moringa oleifera and enhance the functional and nutraceutical properties by increasing the content of photosynthetic pigments. This could have positive implications for sustainable agriculture and human and animal nutrition.