Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The scarcity of irrigation water is severely affecting global crop production. In this context, biostimulants are
increasingly used as alternatives means against abiotic stress conditions. In this study, phenolic compounds composition and
bioactive properties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants grown under water stress conditions and biostimulants
application were investigated.
RESULTS: Sixteen individual phenolic compounds were detected in both pods and seeds with a notable difference in their
compositional profile. A significant effect on phenolic compounds content and composition was also observed for the
biostimulants tested. Regarding the antibacterial activity, pods of the second harvest and seed extracts showed significant
efficacy against Bacillus cereus, especially in water-stressed plants, where all biostimulant treatments weremore effective than
positive controls. Moreover, all biostimulant treatments for seed extracts of water-stressed plants were more effective against
Staphylococcus aureus compared with ampicillin, whereas streptomycin showed the best results. Extracts from pods of the
secondharvest fromnormally irrigatedplants showed thebest results against the fungi tested, except for Penicillium verrucosum
var. cyclopium. Finally, no significant cytotoxic effects were detected.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the biostimulants tested increased total phenolic compounds content compared with control
treatment, especially in pods of the first harvest and seeds of water-stressed plants. Moreover, bioactive properties showed
a varied response in regard to irrigation and biostimulant treatment. Therefore, biostimulants can be considered as a useful
means towards increasing phenolic compoundscontent, and theymay also affect the antimicrobial properties of pods and seeds
extracts.
Description
Keywords
Antimicrobial properties Biostimulants Common bean Cytotoxicity Phenolic composition Water stress
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Petropoulos, Spyridon A.; Taofiq, Oludemi; Fernandes, Ângela; Tzortzakis, Nikos; Ciric, Ana; Sokovic, Marina; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R. (2019). Bioactive properties of greenhouse-cultivated green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under biostimulants and water-stress effect. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. ISSN 0022-5142. 99, p. 6049-6059