Download Seaweed Extracts and Plant Growth Hormones

Innovation in Horticulture
spring 2010
Seaweed
Extracts and
Plant Growth
Hormones
T
he many benefits of seaweed
extracts have been known
to growers for thousands of
years, but only in modern times have
their active ingredients been identified. Seaweed extracts are rich in
natural plant growth hormones and
beneficial trace elements, and they
are a component of most biostimulant products found on the market
today. The best seaweed extracts
come from the brown seaweed
Ascophyllum nodosum, harvested
from mineral- rich waters such as
those found near Norway and Nova
Scotia. Ascophyllum nodosum grows
in the tidal zone and is subject to
extremes in temperature, flooding,
drought, salt stress, and high levels
of solar radiation and ultraviolet
light. The seaweed extracts from
these regions are very high in hormones and plant protection agents.
Seaweed extracts have high levels
of natural plant growth hormones,
especially auxins, cytokinins and
gibberellins. Hormones are very
small signal molecules that help
steer the growth and development
of the plant. Hormones are usually
produced in one part of the plant
and transferred to another part of
the plant to initiate physiological
changes. For example, auxins are
produced in the leaves of plants
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cells. If cytokinins are applied during
the vegetative growth stage, the plants
will grow faster with stronger cell walls.
And if cytokinins are applied just prior
to fruiting and flowering, more lateral
buds will develop for better overall
fruit and flower production.
then transferred to the roots and
growing tips. Cytokinins, on the other
hand, are produced in the roots and
transferred to the leaves and growing
tips. The balances between hormone
levels determine their affects on
plant development.
Auxins are best known for their positive effect on rooting, and synthetic
auxins are usually found in rooting
powders and cloning gels. Only a
small amount of auxins are needed to
initiate root growth. Too much auxin,
especially when applied to growing
roots, can actually have the opposite
affect and restrict root growth! Seaweed extracts contain small amounts
of natural auxins and indoles that
help stimulate rooting, which, when
combined with cytokinins, result in
the production of greater root mass.
Greater root mass provides better
uptake of water and minerals and a
healthier, more stress-resistant plant.
Seaweed extracts are particularly rich
in cytokinins. Cytokinins stimulate
rapid cell division and the production of new cell walls, so cytokinins
are particularly important for new
growth. Cytokinins work in conjunction with other plant hormones. If, for
example, cytokinins are applied during root formation, the cytokinins will
stimulate the division of more root
The cytokinins in seaweed extracts
have a beneficial effect on mother
plants, especially when used as a foliar
spray. When applied to plant tissues,
cytokinins draw nutrients into the
tissue, while stimulating more lateral
plant growth. More lateral buds mean
stockier plants with more candidates
for healthy clones. This stimulatory
effect is amplified when used with a
good bio-hydroponic fertilizer such as
MotherPlant.® The Biologically Active
Molecules (BAM) in MotherPlant®
stimulate the uptake of minerals and
nutrients in root cells, and the cytokinins in seaweed extracts draw the
nutrients into the developing plant
tissues. A push-pull effect is generated to maximize nutrient efficiency and
improve the stored energy in the
developing mother plant.
Seaweed extracts also contain gibberellins. Gibberellins are best known for
their affects on stem elongation and
flower development, but they are also
important for breaking seed dormancy.
Therefore, seaweed extracts are sometimes used to soak seeds before planting.
The gibberellins stimulate the dormant
seeds to produce enzymes that break
down the stored starches into energy
(continued on back page)
Nitrozime ® Marine Algae Extract – Plants Love It!
Nitrozime® Marine Algae Extract is a plant nutrient supplement derived exclusively from a natural form of marine algae known as Ascophyllum Nodosum Seaweed.
Nitrozime® Marine Algae Extract is a 100% organic product and extremely concentrated, eight times more so than common seaweed fertilizers, and contains many of the naturally produced nutrients and
biologically active compounds that all plants require for vigorous,
healthy growth.
The recorded benefits of high quality seaweed to plant growth are legendary, and Nitrozime® is no exception.
Nitrozime® is rich in organic compounds that are extremely beneficial to plants. Try some today! Your plants will thank you in ways you’ll be eager to show off to your friends and family.
For more information, please visit: www.hydrodynamicsintl.com
www.hydrodynamicsintl.com
5711 Enterprise Drive | Lansing, MI 48911
Seaweed Extracts and Plant Growth Hormones — continued
molecules needed for respiration.
Marginal seeds, such as those that
are a little too old, will have better
germination rates when presoaked
with seaweed extracts, and all seeds
will tend to germinate faster.
When using seaweed extracts, it is
very important to follow the dosage
and application directions carefully.
Seaweed extracts can be applied
as a foliar spray or as an additive
to the nutrient formula, but foliar
Harley Smith, Research Director
Hydrodynamics International
application seems to be the most
efficient. Just remember not to use
it as a foliar spray on flowers. Also,
be careful not to use too much!
Hormones are very powerful, even in
small amounts, and using too much
will have the opposite effect on the
plants. Too much auxin restricts
root growth, too much gibberellin
reduces germination rates, and too
much cytokinin can burn leaves.
Moderation is the key!
For more information, visit: www.hydrodynamicsintl.com