Effect of fucoidan and alginate on germination and growth of mung bean seedling

Background. The interest in studying seaweed polysaccharides as plant growth biostimulants is recent and has generally focused on seaweed liquid extracts for compounds content that have positive effect on plant development. Within these compounds are the carbohydrates such as alginate and fucoidan, among others. Goals. To evaluate the effect of crude fucoidan and alginate on seed germination and their growth-stimulating activity on seedling of mung bean (Vigna radiata). Methods. Fucoidan and alginate from Eisenia arborea and Sargassum horridum at six different doses (0.6, 1.2, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg m(-1)) were evaluated on seed germination and seedling growth of mung bean. Results. Alginate from both algae species in this study did not show a significant effect on mung bean growth. Fucoidan from S. horridum produced the significant effect on mung bean growth by increasing root length (16.2%) and seedling total length (11.9%) at a concentration of 0.6 mg mL-1 and an increase in the dry weight of the seedling (31%) at a concentration of 20 mg mL(-1).While fucoidan from E. arborea had the higher effect on shoot growth (10.5%) and total length (10.7%), compared to the control when applied at a concentration of 10 mg mL(-1). Conclusions. Overall, this study showed that fucoidan from both S. horridum and E. arborea can stimulate seedling growth and increase the germination percentage of mung bean seeds compared to the control.