Plant-Derived Biostimulants Differentially Modulate Primary and Secondary Metabolites and Improve the Yield Potential of Red and Green Lettuce Cultivars

The use of biostimulants in modern agriculture has rapidly expanded recent years, owing to their beneficial effects on crop yield and product quality, which have come under the scope intensive research. Accordingly, present study we appraised efficacy two plant-derived biostimulants, legume-derived protein hydrolysates Trainer® (PH), tropical plant extract Auxym® (TPE) lettuce cultivars (green red salanova®) terms morpho-physiological biochemical traits (primary secondary metabolites). differed acquisition capacity for nitrate other ions, photosynthetic transpiration rates, ability synthetize accumulate organic acids protective metabolites. biostimulant effect was significant almost all parameters examined but it subjected cultivar × interactions, denoting a cultivar-dependent response type. Notwithstanding this interaction, application could potentially improve quality by stimulating physiological processes, as indicated SPAD index (leaf chlorophyll index), ACO2 (assimilation rate), E (transpiration), WUEi (intrinsic water efficiency), increasing concurrently mineral content (total N, K, Ca, Mg) biosynthesis (malate, citrate), phenols (caffeic acid, coumaroyl quinic acid isomer 1, dicaffeoylquinic 1), flavonoids (quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-glucoside). Biostimulant action may facilitate bio-enhancement certain that are otherwise limited genetic potential, accumulation specific compounds human health.