Treatments with seaweed-based biostimulants for seed production and seed quality in eggplant

Seaweed-based biostimulants have a valuable chemical content, rich in macro and micro elements, essential amino acids for plant development and also bioactive substances. However, their influence on seed production on vegetable crops has been much less studied than their potential to increase fruit yield. The present scientific work aimed to evaluate the influence of the use of three types of biostimulants based on seaweed on eggplant seed yield. Two cultivars of eggplant, ‘Luiza’ and ‘Belona’, were used as biological material. Three products extracted from different seaweed species were used for the treatments: Agrocean B (with Laminaria digitata (Huds.) Lamour. extract), E-Dalgin (with Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis. extract) and Kelpak (with Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss extract). Four foliar treatments, at 14 days distance, were done with these products, starting with the stage of first fruits setting. Eggplant seed production was determined. The seed quality was evaluated based on 1000 seeds weight, the final germination percentage, the vigor of seedlings at the age of 14 days, and the seed vigor index. Different cultivars of eggplant may react differently to treatments, but in general, the use of foliar treatments with seaweed-based biostimulants can lead to better seed quality.