Effects of Lambda-Carrageenan on plant growth of banana (Musa acuminata cv. Berangan)

Banana (Musa acuminata) is an important food crop in the world because of its role as a staple food and income source for many countries, including Malaysia. Current agrochemical and organic manure practice in commercialized banana production has been a major threat to the environment. Overuse of chemical and manure fertilisers can lead to water, soil, and air pollution, with a consequent negative impact on ecosystems and human health. To address this issue, the development of an alternative environmentally friendly approach is crucial to reduce the usage of chemical and organic fertilisers and promote banana plant growth. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the potential of λ-carrageenan as a plant growth enhancer in Musa acuminata cv. Berangan via concentration study (ranging from 0 to 1500 ppm), gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), biochemical assays, nutrient ion analysis, and metabolomics analysis. The application of 750 ppm λ- carrageenan was determined as the optimum concentration as it gave the optimum growth performance on banana plantlets with enhanced plant height, root length, pseudostem diameter, and fresh weight. The RT-qPCR study revealed that gene expressions such as chlorophyllide a oxygenase, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine synthase, trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase, and catalase genes were induced in optimum treatment. However, expression of the class III peroxidase gene, which is involved in hydrogen peroxide accumulation, remained at a low level upon treatment with optimum λ-carrageenan. Similarly, biochemical assays of total chlorophyll content, rubisco activity, total protein content, total phenol content, catalase content, peroxidase content, hydrogen peroxide content, and malondialdehyde content were in parallel with the gene expression analysis. Interestingly, metabolomics profiling analysis also revealed an increase in the abundance of several metabolites involved in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis in optimum treatment. Moreover, supplementation of optimum λ-carrageenan showed a significant increment of macronutrient uptake (N, P, K, Mg) in banana plantlets. Taken together, the findings suggested that λ-carrageenan at 750 ppm promotes banana plant growth via enhancement of cell metabolism, nutrient uptake, and maintenance of cell homeostasis.

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