BIOACTIVITY OF Ulva spp. SOLUBLE POLYSACCHARIDES ON GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF SOME CROP PLANTS

Seaweed compounds can play an important role in the plant growth promotion and metabolism. We applied two concentrations (5 and 10 mg/ml) of soluble polysaccharides extracted from the green macro algae Ulva fasciata and Ulva lactuca on germination of Lupinus termis seeds. Growth and germination metabolism (amylase, protease activity) were studied. The priming of seeds with U. fasciata soluble polysaccharides (5mg /ml) significantly induced the highest enhancing effect on the base of all parameters (seed germination (100 ± 0%), shoot length (9.41 ± 0.361 cm) cm and root length (11.20 ± 1.08 cm), fresh weight (2.446 ± 0.054g) and dry weight (0.461 ± 0.044g); amylase activity ( 467.346 ± 36 mg reducing sugars / min .g. dr.wt), protease activity(514.062 ± 27 μg amino acids / min .g. dr.wt)).These results suggest that seaweed extracts induce stronger seed germination efficiency and growth parameters and can be recommended to use as organic fertilizer.