Seaweed Liquid Fertilizers: A Novel Strategy for the Biofortification of VegeTables and Crops

Abstract

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid which gives certain foods a pink or red colour and it acts as an antioxidant to limit cell damage and inflammation. It improves immune function, increase beneficial high-density lipoprotein levels and decrease triglycerides. It is abundantly present in seafood, such as salmon, shrimp, trout, crayfish and krill. Common edible vegetarian foods usually don’t contain astaxanthin but this is added during processing. Commercial astaxanthin is made from a type of yeast called Phaffia rhodozyma or an algae called Haematococcus pluvialis. Astaxanthin is been supplemented in energy drinks, capsules, extracts, oils. Powders etc., Supplements containing astaxanthin from vegetarian sources will often state this on the label. In this present study we have used seaweed bio-fertilizers extracted from Kappaphycus alvarezii to study their influence on Abulmoschus esculentus . The sea weed liquid fertilizer contains Nitrogen(N) + Phosphorus (P2O5) + potassium (K2O) – 3%, Calcium(Ca) + Magnesium(Mg) + Zinc(Zn) – 0.9%, Amino acids + Fulvic acid + Humic acid – 1.88%, and Cytokinins + Alginic Acid + Mannitol + Gibberellins – 0.5%.The nutritive value and the yield of the treated plants have showed tremendous improvement when compared to untreated plants. Methanolic extract of root system of treated plants contains many novel compounds among them more than 80% was astaxanthin (3R,3′S) 3,3′-dihydroxy, Beta,beta-carotene-4,4-dione – 58% and Beta,beta-carotene-4,4-dione-3,3′-dihydroxy(3R,3′S – 25.6%). In conclusion, the seaweed liquid fertilizer could serve as best choice of bio-fertilizer for organic farming which increases yield, nutritive value and therapeutic values.