Type of bio-stimulant and application method effects on stem quality and root system growth in L.A. lily

Summary The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of three new different agricultural bio-stimulants, based on hydrolyzed protein coming from algae (M.A.E.), animal epithelium (A.P.H.), and lucerne origin (H.S.), compared to a control treatment (distilled water) on crop cycle, stem quality and root system growth in L. A. 'Brindisi' soilless cultivation. The bio-stimulants were applied eight times both at foliar and drenching level. The three bio-stimulants gave performances similar among them and higher than the water only according to some of the parameters: the crop cycle came early, the leaves resulted more expanded in the lamina and greener, the flower buds had a higher diameter; the root system showed a higher length development. Finally stem and bulb dry weights values were higher than the control. The bio-stimulant based on animal epithelium differed, from the vegetal and the algae-based ones, in the flower buds number (samevalues of the control), in the fresh and dry weights of leaves, buds and stem roots (values higher than the control ones). Regarding the cut stem quality if, on the one hand, drenching application method enhanced the stem height, on the other the foliar application increased in the flower buds number. With regard to bulb roots the foliar application method promoted the highest fresh weight value. The A.P.H. with foliar application, compared to the water, advanced both the harvest of nine days.