Biostimulants Enhance Lettuce Biofortification
Sustainable Peptide-Based Biostimulants for Iron and Zinc Enrichment
Biostimulants Enhance Lettuce Biofortification by increasing essential micronutrients without reducing crop yield or leaf quality. Agronomic biofortification helps address hidden hunger worldwide. Peptide-based biochelates provide a sustainable alternative to synthetic chelates. They combine natural chelating properties with biostimulant activity. As a result, they improve micronutrient uptake in leafy vegetables and support sustainable horticulture.
Peptide Biochelates Improve Lettuce Nutritional Value
This study evaluated repeated foliar applications of two peptide-based biochelates on hydroponically grown lettuce. The treatments increased leaf iron by 38.1% and zinc by 44.1% compared with untreated plants. However, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf pigments, antioxidant activity, and macronutrient composition remained unchanged. Therefore, nutrient enrichment did not compromise plant growth or leaf quality.
Moreover, 100 g of fresh biofortified lettuce could provide 7.9–11.5% of the Population Reference Intake for iron. It could also supply 3.3–3.9% of the recommended zinc intake. Consequently, peptide-based biochelates represent a promising strategy for producing more nutritious vegetables.
Improved Leaf Quality Through Sustainable Biofortification
Zinc peptide treatments also reduced nitrate accumulation by 9–11% compared with the control and iron peptide treatments. In addition, crop yield remained stable throughout the experiment. These findings highlight the potential of peptide-based biochelates for sustainable lettuce production.
Overall, the study shows that peptide-based biochelates effectively increase iron and zinc concentrations. They also preserve plant productivity and leaf quality. This sustainable approach supports the production of healthier vegetables while reducing the environmental impact of fertilization.
