OPTIMIZATION OF THE BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM SPROUTS OF NEO-TROPICAL VEGETABLE SPECIES

Abstract

Seed germination improves the nutritional quality of plant foods; since they increase the contentsand availability of essential nutrients and reduce the levels of antinutrients. A considerablenumber of species have been studied, but to date, there are few studies on vegetable species ofthe neo-tropics. The aim of this study was the evaluation and optimization of mineral nutrientsolutions [Adelusi-Oseni (AO), Ruakura (Ru), Maeda (M)] and their combinations with compostextracts (EC1, EC2, and EC3) obtained from three different solvents, on the development ofbiomass of four neo-tropical vegetable plants in Mexico: pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), papalo[Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass.], pipitza (Porophyllum linaria Cav.), and purslane (Portulacaoleracea L.). The hypothesis was that biomass production achieved with the nutrient solutionswould lead to the highest yield for each seed compared to the control. Germination was carriedout in Petri dishes with cotton pads as substrate, adding 5 mL of nutrient solution, along witha control grown with water, in a photoperiod of 12 h; continuing germination until completing96 h. San Cristóbal experimental design was applied to the nutrient mixtures with the greatestpositive impact on the production of biomass. An ANOVA was carried out with Tukey andDunnet means comparison tests. For pumpkin sprouts, solution EC3E2 managed to increaseseedling growth by 395.2 % in comparison to the control; EC2A displayed a greater elongationin comparison with the control of 84.7 % for papal sprouts; EC2A produced an increase of 15.8 %in pipitza. In purslane, EC2A produced an increase of 53.7 %. Nutrition with compost extractscan favour the production of biomass from sprouts.