Biostimulants Based on Amino Acids and Related Compounds

Free amino acids and peptides are the active ingredients of one of the major groups of crop biostimulants. There are numerous commercial formulations available to growers, from those with one compound to those with a blend of several compounds. Exogenous amino acids and peptides applied to horticultural crops have been associated with increased chlorophyll concentration, accelerated growth, augmented biomass accumulation, enhanced fruit set, enlarged fruits, increased soluble solid concentration, higher tolerance to abiotic stress, and in some cases more tolerance to biotic stress has been found as well. Results of basic and applied research on horticultural crops will be presented, with emphasis on tropical and subtropical crops.