Production of liquid seaweed fertiliser from Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea and its biochemical effects on the commercial seeds

In this work, the effect of the different diluted Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea extract as a seaweed fertiliser which collected September and March on the growth and antioxidant system of cowpea, bean, corn and rice seedlings were studied.Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is a biological pollution in the Mediterranean Sea because of its invasive character since 1991. The present study proposes an alternative evaluation of invader biomass of Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea in Aegean Sea as seaweed fertiliser in organic agriculture.Root and shoot lengths of V. sinensis (in September season) were observed higher than control group when applied seaweed extracts. Raising positive responses including catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), alpha amylase activities and chlorophyll-a, b levels were observed at extract soaked-water treated V. sinensis seedlings. In contrast, the negative effect was observed in March season seaweed fertiliser on V. sinensis seedlings. When compared to the march with september season seaweed fertiliser, better effect was observed on Z. mays seedlings on September season. In september season, seaweed fertiliser induced to increase in antioxidant enzyme activities, on the other hand, malondialdehyde levels decreased in the shoots of P. vulgaris. Under these positive results, Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea extract might be used as an antioxidant supplement for seedlings as an alternative product in organic agriculture.