Drench Application of Fish-derived Protein Hydrolysates Affects Lettuce Growth, Chlorophyll Content, and Gas Exchange

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) are an important group of plant biostimulants that have received increasing attention in recent years because of their positive effects on crop performance and contribution to agroecological sustainability. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of fish-derived PHs on growth, chlorophyll content and fluorescence, and leaf gas exchange of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown in a growth chamber. Fish-derived PHs were drench applied (300 mL of 3 mL.L-1) three times at 0, 14, and 24 days after transplanting (DAT), and lettuce were evaluated 30 DAT. Application of PHs significantly increased the lettuce leaf number per plant from 22 to 28, stem diameter from 1.37 to 1.68 cm, shoot fresh and dry weight (FW and DW) from 59 to 89 g and 5.5 to 7.7 g, and root dry weight from 0.52 to 0.80 g. It also significantly increased the leaf relative water content (RWC) from 87% to 90% and succulence from 267 to 288 g.m(-2) water, but had no effect on specific leaf area (SLA). PHs significantly enhanced chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate although they did not alter chlorophyll fluorescence. Our study indicated that plant biostimulants and fertilizer PHs improved plant performance and might have potential to be used for sustainable production of lettuce.