Protein hydrolysate-based biostimulant improves yield and fruit quality of greenhouse fresh tomato

The use of natural plant biostimulants has been proposed as one of the most promising and innovative approach to address the challenges to sustainable greenhouse horticulture, to ensure optimal nutrient uptake and crop yield. Very limited information are available concerning the effect of natural biostimulants on yield and quality attributes of vegetables. Accordingly, it is in the best interest of growers, extension specialists and scientists to elucidate how biostimulant applications can modulate quality and yield of greenhouse vegetables. A greenhouse experiment were carried out to assess the crop productivity and fruit quality traits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in relation to foliar protein hydrolysate-based biostimulant applications (untreated or treated at a concentration of 3 mL L-1). Foliar application of the protein hydrolysate-based biostimulant enhanced marketable yield and mean fruit weight by 15.4 and 19.8%, respectively compared to untreated tomato plants, with no significant effect on the fruit number. Similarly to crop performance, the foliar application of protein hydrolysate incurred a significant increase in total soluble solids, total ascorbic acid and by 10.2, 22.9 and 37.5%, respectively compared to untreated tomato plants.