DESC:A BIOSTIMULANT FORMULATION FOR IMPROVING PLANT GROWTH AND USES THEREOF ,CLAIMS:1. A biostimulant formulation for improving plant growth comprising:
a. juice obtained from at least one seaweed species; and
b. hydrolysate obtained from at least one seaweed species pulp, wherein the hydrolysate is obtained from the pulp after juice has been extracted from the pulp.
2. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seaweed species is a red seaweed.
3. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein said red seaweed is selected from the group consisting of Kappaphycus striatus, Eucheuma cottonii, Eucheuma spinosum, Halymenia durvillaea, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Chondrus crispus, Halymenia durvillei, Porphyra purpurea, Eucheuma denticulatum, Euchuema isiforme, Hypnea musciformis, Solieria filiformis, Mastocarpus stellatus, Porphyra capensis, and combinations thereof.
4. The biostimulant as claimed in claim 3, wherein said red seaweed is Kappaphycus alvarezii.
5. The biostimulant as claimed in claim 3, wherein said red seaweed is Eucheuma dendiculatum.
6. The biostimulant as claimed in claim 3, wherein red seaweed is a combination of Eucheuma dendiculatum and Kappaphycus striatus.
7. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said juice brix range is from 15-27Bx.
8. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hydrolysate comprises soluble sulphated galacto-oligosachharides having molecular weight ranging from 400-10000Da.
9. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hydrolysate comprises soluble sulphated galacto-oligosachharides having degree of polymerization in the range of 2-16.
10. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said biostimulant formulation brix is in the range of 10-25Bx.
11. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said biostimulant formulation carbohydrate concentration is in the range of 5-100mg/ml.
12. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein juice to hydrolysate w/w ratio in said formulation is in the range of 1:9-15:1.
13. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 1, further comprising suitable carriers, diluents, and excipients.
14. A method of preparing a biostimulant formulation as claimed in any of the claims 1-12, said method comprising the steps of:
a. obtaining at least one seaweed species;
b. processing said seaweed species to obtain seaweed juice and pulp, wherein the pulp is obtained after extracting juice;
c. subjecting the pulp to hydrolysis to obtain a hydrolysate, said hydrolysis comprising the steps of:
i. diluting the pulp with at least one diluent to obtain suspended solids having weight percentage in the range of 5-15%;
ii. adjusting the pH of suspended solids to a range of 1-3.5;
iii. adjusting the temperature to a range of 60ºC-140ºC at a rate of 1-5ºC per minute under constant stirring; and
iv. holding the temperature for 5-300 minutes to obtain said hydrolysate;
d. concentrating the hydrolysate to a final brix in the range of 17-24Bx; and
e. mixing said juice, and hydrolysate to obtain a biostimulant formulation.
15. A method of preparing a biostimulant formulation as claimed in any of the claims 1-13, said method comprising:
a. carrying out a method as claimed in claim 13 to obtain a biostimulant formulation; and
b. contacting suitable carriers, diluents, and excipients to said biostimulant formulation.
16. The method as claimed in any of the claims 14-15, wherein said diluent is selected from the group consisting of hard water, soft water, sea water, and combinations thereof.
17. A method of treatment of plants to promote plant growth, said method comprising the steps of:
a. obtaining a biostimulant formulation as claimed in any of the claims 1-13; and
b. contacting said biostimulant formulation with a plant or part thereof, including seeds,
wherein said method promotes plant growth.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein plant growth can be increased yield, increased root length, increased leaf area, increased shoot growth, early maturation, and combinations thereof.
19. A biostimulant formulation as claimed in any of the claims 1-12 for use in promoting plant growth, said plant growth can be increased yield, increased root length, increased leaf area, increased shoot growth, early maturation, and combinations thereof.
20. The biostimulant formulation as claimed in claim 19, prepared by a method as claimed in any of the claims 13-15.