Application of seaweed extracts in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedlings subjected to water deficit: physiological, biochemical and enzymatic responses

Muhammad Danial Mokhtaruddin, . and Nur Aifaa Abd Razak, . and Aisamuddin Ardi Zainal Abidin, . and Nor Izzati Husna Noorhisham, . and Nur Asna Faiqah Johari, . and Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof, . (2025) Application of seaweed extracts in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedlings subjected to water deficit: physiological, biochemical and enzymatic responses. Journal of Oil Palm Research (Malaysia), 37 (1). pp. 53-63. ISSN 2811-4701

Water deficit can negatively affect physiological and biochemical responses in plants. The stress-mitigation potential of seaweed extracts (SWEs) Caulerpa lentillifera (green seaweed) and Gracilaria edulis (red seaweed) on oil palm seedlings subjected to water deficit was investigated. Plant height, relative water content, chlorophyll content, soluble protein concentration and the expression of genes coding for thiamine (vitamin B1) biosynthesis enzymes were evaluated. SWE treatments were applied to four-month-old oil palm seedlings under full irrigation (control) and water deficit conditions. Overall, SWE did not affect the height of the seedlings after 60 days of treatment, but the seedlings managed to maintain relative water content of up to 90.00% and chlorophyll and leaf protein content increased up to 50.00% in seedlings treated with red seaweed extract compared to the control. The application of G. edulis and C. lentillifera SWE induced downregulation of THIC (up to 15.00%) and THI4 (up to 15.46%) expression respectively on day 2 posttreatment as compared to the control. This finding is in line with the postulated role of thiamine in protection against stress in plants and suggests the role of SWE as a biostimulant.

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Abstract

Water deficit can negatively affect physiological and biochemical responses in plants. The stress-mitigation potential of seaweed extracts (SWEs) Caulerpa lentillifera (green seaweed) and Gracilaria edulis (red seaweed) on oil palm seedlings subjected to water deficit was investigated. Plant height, relative water content, chlorophyll content, soluble protein concentration and the expression of genes coding for thiamine (vitamin B1) biosynthesis enzymes were evaluated. SWE treatments were applied to four-month-old oil palm seedlings under full irrigation (control) and water deficit conditions. Overall, SWE did not affect the height of the seedlings after 60 days of treatment, but the seedlings managed to maintain relative water content of up to 90.00% and chlorophyll and leaf protein content increased up to 50.00% in seedlings treated with red seaweed extract compared to the control. The application of G. edulis and C. lentillifera SWE induced downregulation of THIC (up to 15.00%) and THI4 (up to 15.46%) expression respectively on day 2 posttreatment as compared to the control. This finding is in line with the postulated role of thiamine in protection against stress in plants and suggests the role of SWE as a biostimulant.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	oil palms
AGROVOC Term:	seaweeds
AGROVOC Term:	biostimulants
AGROVOC Term:	physiological response
AGROVOC Term:	gene expression
AGROVOC Term:	relative water content
AGROVOC Term:	chlorophyll content
AGROVOC Term:	Caulerpa lentillifera
AGROVOC Term:	Gracilaria edulis
AGROVOC Term:	thiamine
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2026 07:25
Last Modified:	02 Apr 2026 07:25
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/25227

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