Potentiating Chlorella vulgaris bioinput as a growth biostimulant in the production of basil seedlings with the addition of vitamin B3

Abstract

Microalgae have been studied due to their biotechnological potential in agriculture and could be an important source of biostimulants. Similarly, other compounds, such as B₃ vitamins (niacin and nicotinamide), have been found to enhance the biostimulant effect on plant growth. This study aimed to evaluate the potentiating effect of Chlorella vulgaris bioinput as a growth biostimulant in the production of basil seedlings (Ocimum basilicum L.) with the addition of vitamin B₃. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment on the Mato Grosso do Sul State University - Cassilândia University Unit and the Sustainable Development Center of the Bolsão Sul Mato Grossense. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with four treatments: control, microalgae bioinput (Bio), vitamin B₃ (niacin + nicotinamide), and joint application of Bio + vitamin B₃, with four replications. The agronomic traits of growth and photosynthetic pigments of the seedlings were evaluated. For the growth of basil seedlings, applying bio input combined with vitamin B₃ had a significant impact (p < 0.05) on several variables. This combination increased seedling height, stem diameter, root dry matter, shoot dry matter, total dry matter, and Dickson quality index (DQI) by 19 %, 11 %, 11 %, 41 %, 37 %, and 17 %, respectively, as well as regulating the production of photosynthetic pigments in basil. The results indicate that bioinput combined with niacin and nicotinamide stimulates various plant growth traits, favoring the production of seedlings.