Categories of various plant biostimulants – mode of application and shelf-life

A plant biostimulant is any substance or microorganism which can be applied to plants to enhance seed germination and plant growth development along with its nutritional efficiency. Plant biostimulants collectively influence: plant growth development, pollen tube development, flower and fruit set, plant pigments, shoot and root development, nutritional efficiency, yield and shelf-life of crops, rhizospheric and soil microorganisms, general soil health and plant-environment interactions. Biostimulants are derived from natural origins and can help reduce the use of chemical products and also mitigate the negative impacts of harmful chemicals in the environment. This chapter focuses on their modes of application and effects on crops and horticultural plants. It also emphasizes impacts on the shelf-life and efficiencies of commercial biostimulants, as compared to synthetic chemical products and highlights the opportunities and challenges of their market expansion.