Open Access

ARTICLE

Evaluation of Seaweeds as Stimulators to Alleviate Salinity-Induced Stress on Some Agronomic Traits of Different Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivars

Nilüfer Kocak Sahin^*

Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Ankara, 06110, Türkiye

* Corresponding Author: Nilüfer Kocak Sahin. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(8), 2399-2421. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.067880

Received 15 May 2025; Accepted 14 July 2025; Issue published 29 August 2025

Abstract

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is of international importance as a source of oil and protein. Soil salinity is one of the most significant abiotic stress factors affecting the yield and quality of peanuts. This study evaluated the potential of a seaweed-based biostimulant to enhance emergence and seedling growth of four peanut cultivars (‘Ayse Hanım’, ‘Halis Bey’, ‘NC-7’, and ‘Albenek’) under increasing salinity levels. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Seeds were sown in trays and treated with two doses of seaweed extract (0 and 5 g L⁻¹) applied directly to the seedbed. Salinity stress was induced by dissolving NaCl in distilled water used for weekly irrigation over six weeks, with salinity levels set at: S₀: Control, S₁: 50 mM NaCl, S₂: 100 mM NaCl, S₃: 150 mM NaCl, and S₄: 200 mM NaCl. Emergence percentage, mean emergence time, shoot and root length, fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll content, proline, crude protein, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations (Ca, K, P, Mg, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe) were measured. The results revealed significant differences between treatments. Seaweed applications showed notable improvements in measured parameters of each variety compared to the salt treated and un-treated control plants of each variety. As salinity stress increased, the emergence percentage, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of the plants, crude protein content percentage, leaf chlorophyll contents, Ca, K, P, Mg, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe decreased. Similarly, the mean emergence time, and proline contents also decreased with each increase in Na concentration. The best outcomes were obtained in seedlings treated with seaweed under no salinity (0 mM NaCl) and mild salinity (50 mM NaCl) conditions. These findings suggest that seaweeds is an effective biostimulant for improving early-stage growth and stress resilience in peanuts under saline conditions.

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