Potential of Rhizoclonium riparium as Biostimulant for Germination and Seedling Growth of Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)

Abstract

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, we need to increase the world food production by 60-70% to feed the rapid growing human population. Rhizoclonium riparium,a genus of filamentous green algae has been used in this study. The influence of green algal extract from Rhizoclonium partitioned into different concentrations on germination and growth performance of Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Winged bean(Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) was evaluated. Treatments were as follows: Controlled, 25% aqueous extract with 75% distilled water, 75% aqueous extract with 25% distilled water, 50% aqueous extract with 50% distilled water, Urea fertilizer (46:0:0), and EM-1 Bio-fertilizer (containing photosynthetic bacteria). Germination associate parameters and growth parameters such as speed of germination, peak value, mean daily germination, mean germination time, mean daily germination, leaf area index, and crop growth rate were recorded with a much higher rate in the treatment with equal ratio of aqueous extract and distilled water in both crops. Thereby, there is a very promising evidence of the potential use of Rhizoclonium riparium as plant biostimulant.