ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 5 (2), pp. 393-398, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full length Research
Effects of some red Algae on antioxidant and phytochemical contents of Maize (Zea mays L.) plants
Mahmoud A. Al-Saman1, Safinaz A. Farfour2* and Ragaa A. Hamouda3
1Industrial Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI),University of Sadat City, Egypt.
2Environmental Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI),University of Sadat City, Egypt.
3Microbial Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI),University of Sadat City, Egypt.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 02 December, 2014
Abstract
Biofertilizers have many beneficial effects for environment and agriculture especially in controlling many of plant diseases and enhancing the growth of a lot of crops. The effect of three species of red marine algae i.e., Laurenciaobtusa, Corallina elongate and Janiarubens was evaluated to enhance the phytochemical contents of maize (Zea mays L.) plants to improve the production and plant disease controlling. After 60 days from planting, application of single algae or their mixtures significantly enhanced the phytochemical contents of maize plants. The application of Janiarubens increased both of whole plant nitrogen content and protein content by 129.2% while application of Janiarubens+Corallina elongate increased the sugar contents by 32.4% and it was the superior treatment in increasing shoot polyphenolic contents and antioxidants content while the treatment of Corallina elongate was the superior one in increasing the shoot polyphenolic content, shoot antioxidants and root tannic acid content. Application of the three algae gave the highest amount in the root tannic acid content.
Key words: Red algae, marine algae, maize, phytochemicals, polyphenol, antioxidant capacity.