Designing and formulating microbial and non-microbial biostimulants

Publication date: 27/07/2020
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: Paolo Bonini, NGAlab, Spain; Veronica Cirino, Atens Agrotecnologias Naturales S.L., Spain; Helene Reynaud, Italpollina USA, USA; Youssef Rouphael, University of Naples Federico II, Italy; Mariateresa Cardarelli, CREA, Centro di ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo, Italy; and Giuseppe Colla, University of Tuscia, Italy

Chapter synopsis: This chapter provides the first overview of the optimal design and formulation of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants. The production steps for a plant biostimulant are first presented and discussed, and then two successful case studies of plant biostimulant development are reported in detail. This chapter provides an innovative discussion about the circular production process for the development of plant biostimulants, including i) process development, ii) elucidation of the mode of action (by combining plant phenotyping and omics science), iii) quality control, iv) field trial validation, v) regulation and vi) industrialization/commercialization. The chapter includes two successful industrial case studies of microbial (mycorrhizal inoculants) and non-microbial (vegetal-derived protein hydrolysates) biostimulant products that have been successfully commercialised.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2020.0068.11