Potential use of seaweed- and silicon-based biostimulants to alleviate the multistresses on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in South Africa: a review

L.M. Legodi, E. Van Der Watt, M.M. Masowa, Z.P. Khetsha
Environmental stress factors such as climate change, wounding because of severe pruning, hail damage, and natural pests, as well as soil and water quality, remain the most important determinants of the success of agricultural productivity, especially in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in South Africa. Therefore, the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity can be well comprehended by studying the impact of individual components contributing to climate change on plants and crops. The authors conducted a comprehensive desktop and academic literature analysis investigating the potential use of seaweed- and silicon-based biostimulants to alleviate various multistresses on tomatoes in South Africa. From the literature analysis review, it could be deduced that soil salinization removes 1.5 million ha of cropland from production each year, reducing the potential for output by up to 46 million ha annually. Combined effects of salinity and severe pruning as multistress have been recorded to damage plant germination, development, reproduction, and lower agricultural yield. Several studies have reported widely on assessing the effectiveness of biostimulants in promoting plant development under single stress in South Africa; however, only a few studies have reported the recovery responses of multistress alleviated using biostimulants on vegetables and other horticultural plants. This review provides insight into the potential use of seaweed- and silicon-based biostimulants to alleviate various multistresses on tomatoes in South Africa.
Legodi, L.M., Van Der Watt, E., Masowa, M.M. and Khetsha, Z.P. (2025). Potential use of seaweed- and silicon-based biostimulants to alleviate the multistresses on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in South Africa: a review. Acta Hortic. 1416, 193-200
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.25
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.25
moisture stress, plant growth stimulants, salinity, stress factors, wounding
English

Acta Horticulturae