BIO-STIMULANT EFFECT OF CHLORELLA VULGARIS MEDIA ON GROWTH OF TOMATO (ROMA VF AND HYBRID) IN RIVERS STATE
Abstract
This study investigates the bio-stimulant effects of Chlorella vulgaris media on the growth of
two tomato varieties, Roma VF and Platinum F1, under the humid tropical climate of Rivers
State, Nigeria. A pot experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Research Farm,
University of Port Harcourt. The Roma VF variety was selected for its local preference and
challenges in establishment, while Platinum F1 was chosen for its adaptability to local
conditions. Seedlings were produced in sterilized potting soil and transplanted at five weeks.
Treatments included control (no Chlorella), Chlorella suspension, and Chlorella biomass,
applied 3 times at transplanting and 2 days after each time. Chlorella vulgaris cell count in each
medium was maintained at 250,000 cells/ ml. Chlorella dry biomass was reconstituted in
distilled water. A completely randomized design was employed with three replicates per
treatment. Results indicated significant differences in vegetative growth parameters, with the
Chlorella biomass treatment showing the greatest enhancement in plant height, stem girth, and
leaf area. Platinum F1 consistently outperformed Roma VF across various growth metrics.
Reproductive growth was also influenced, with Platinum F1 displaying higher average truss
counts. These findings highlight the potential of Chlorella vulgaris as a bio-stimulant to improve
tomato cultivation in Rivers State, suggesting that its application could mitigate the challenges
associated with traditional farming methods. Further research is recommended to optimize
Chlorella application methods and assess long-term impacts on fruit quality.
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