OPTIMIZATION OF THE BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM SPROUTS OF NEO-TROPICAL VEGETABLE SPECIES

Seed germination improves the nutritional quality of plant foods; since they increase the contents and availability of essential nutrients and reduce the levels of antinutrients. A considerable number of species have been studied, but to date, there are few studies on vegetable species of the neo-tropics. The aim of this study was the evaluation and optimization of mineral nutrient solutions [Adelusi-Oseni (AO), Ruakura (Ru), Maeda (M)] and their combinations with compost extracts (EC1, EC2, and EC3) obtained from three different solvents, on the development of biomass of four neo-tropical vegetable plants in Mexico: pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), papalo [Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass.], pipitza (Porophyllum linaria Cav.), and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.). The hypothesis was that biomass production achieved with the nutrient solutions would lead to the highest yield for each seed compared to the control. Germination was carried out in Petri dishes with cotton pads as substrate, adding 5 mL of nutrient solution, along with a control grown with water, in a photoperiod of 12 h; continuing germination until completing 96 h. San Cristóbal experimental design was applied to the nutrient mixtures with the greatest positive impact on the production of biomass. An ANOVA was carried out with Tukey and Dunnet means comparison tests. For pumpkin sprouts, solution EC3E2 managed to increase seedling growth by 395.2 % in comparison to the control; EC2A displayed a greater elongation in comparison with the control of 84.7 % for papal sprouts; EC2A produced an increase of 15.8 % in pipitza. In purslane, EC2A produced an increase of 53.7 %.