The Science of Better Growth: Latest Breakthroughs in Microgreens Biostimulants
The Science of Better Growth: Latest Breakthroughs in Microgreens Biostimulants
Key Takeaways:
- Natural biostimulants combined with protein hydrolysates boost microgreens’ fresh weight by up to 140% in hydroponic systems.
- Trichoderma and Bacillus treatments reduce nitrate levels while increasing beneficial compounds like carotenoids and chlorophyll.
- Optimal growth conditions at 24°C, combined with biostimulants significantly improve seedling development and nutrient absorption.
- Innovative natural compounds provide stress resistance while supporting sustainable production methods in microgreens cultivation
Microgreens World Knowledgebase
- Advanced Research
- Business
- General
- Growing
- Health
- Nutrition
- Science
- Trends

You’ll find exciting breakthroughs in microgreens growth through natural biostimulants – particularly protein hydrolysates and beneficial microorganisms like Trichoderma asperellum and Bacillus thuringiensis.
These compounds can enhance crop yields by up to 140% while improving nutritional content and reducing nitrate levels by 40%. The science shows that combining these treatments maximizes nutrient uptake and antioxidant levels, though results vary by plant type.
Understanding these innovations opens doors to transforming your microgreens production.
While traditional microgreens cultivation has relied primarily on basic nutrients and growing media, groundbreaking research into natural biostimulants is transforming how we improve these nutrient-dense crops.
You’ll find that protein hydrolysates and microbial biostimulants can enhance your microgreens’ fresh weight by up to 140%.
When you’re using combinations like Trichoderma asperellum and Bacillus thuringiensis, you’re not just improving plant growth – you’re also reducing nitrate levels by 40% while enhancing food quality.
What’s particularly fascinating is how these natural compounds increase your crops’ antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds, though you’ll need to consider that responses are genotype-dependent, meaning different microgreens species react distinctly to these treatments.
When you apply biostimulants to your microgreens, you’re essentially giving them a nutritional uplift that transforms their ability to absorb and process nutrients. The numbers tell a compelling story about these natural growth amplifiers:
Treatment Type | Nutrient Impact | Health Benefit |
Bacillus (Bt) | -8.69% Nitrogen | +46.13% Chlorophyll b |
Trichoderma (Ta) | -39.65% Nitrates | +8.31% Carotenoids |
Protein Hydrolysates | Enhanced Uptake | Improved Yield |
Combined Treatments | Better Absorption | Higher Antioxidants |
Natural Compounds | Enhanced Growth | Improved Quality |
You’ll see significant improvements in your microgreens’ phytochemical content and overall health, leading to superior production quality and heightened nutritional value.
Optimizing Growth Conditions Through Innovative Stimulants
Optimizing growth conditions through innovative biostimulants requires a careful balance of environmental factors and state-of-the-art supplements that work together like a well-orchestrated symphony.
You’ll find that incorporating protein hydrolysates into your nutrient solution can dramatically enhance both quality and yield, especially in hydroponic systems where you’re growing microgreens like Lepidium sativum.
By maintaining temperatures around 24°C during germination and using beneficial organisms like Bacillus thuringiensis, you’re creating an ideal environment for seedling growth.
The science shows that these biostimulants can increase fresh biomass by up to 140% – that’s nearly 2.5 times more growth than untreated plants.
Optimizing Growth Conditions Through Innovative Stimulants
Optimizing growth conditions through innovative biostimulants requires a careful balance of environmental factors and state-of-the-art supplements that work together like a well-orchestrated symphony.
You’ll find that incorporating protein hydrolysates into your nutrient solution can dramatically enhance both quality and yield, especially in hydroponic systems where you’re growing microgreens like Lepidium sativum.
By maintaining temperatures around 24°C during germination and using beneficial organisms like Bacillus thuringiensis, you’re creating an ideal environment for seedling growth.
The science shows that these biostimulants can increase fresh biomass by up to 140% – that’s nearly 2.5 times more growth than untreated plants.
Microgreens Biostimulants: What it all boils down to
You’re now equipped with state-of-the-art biostimulant knowledge that’ll transform your microgreens cultivation.
By implementing these natural compounds, you’ll improve germination rates, increase nutrient uptake, and strengthen your plants’ resilience.
Whether you’re growing commercially or at home, these science-backed solutions offer sustainable ways to refine your yields.
Start experimenting with these innovative techniques today, and you’ll soon see extraordinary improvements in your microgreens’ health and productivity.
Research
Ciriello, M., Campana, E., Kyriacou, M. C., Christophe El-Nakhel, Graziani, G., Cardarelli, M., Colla, G., Pascale, S. D., & Youssef Rouphael. (2023). Hydropriming and plant-based protein hydrolysate biostimulants impact the primary and secondary metabolites of brassicaceous microgreens differentially. Italus Hortus, 30, 37–37. https://doi.org/10.26353/j.itahort/2023.3.3747
Ciriello, M., Campana, E., Kyriacou, M. C., Christophe El‐Nakhel, Graziani, G., Cardarelli, M., Colla, G., Stefania De Pascale, & Youssef Rouphael. (2024). Plant‐derived biostimulant as priming agents enhanced antioxidant and nutritive properties in brassicaceous microgreens. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture/Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.13416
Clément, J., Delisle-Houde, M., Nguyen, T. T. A., Dorais, M., & Tweddell, R. J. (2024). Effect of biostimulants on mustard microgreens grown under different cultivation conditions. Phytoprotection, 104(1), 26–34. https://doi.org/10.7202/1113873ar
C. El-Nakhel, Ciriello, M., Formisano, L., Kyriacou, M. C., & Y. Rouphael. (2023). Combining microgreens cultivation and biostimulant application in hydroponic systems accentuate yield and visual quality of functional food. Acta Horticulturae, 1377, 881–888. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2023.1377.110
Pérez-Leal, R., Rodríguez-Roque, M. J., Acevedo-Barrera, A. A., Villa-Martínez, A., Guerrero, B. I., Gutiérrez-Chávez, A., & Hernández-Huerta, J. (2025). Bacillus thuringiensis and Trichoderma asperellum as Biostimulants in Hydroponic Tendril Pea (Pisum sativum) Microgreens. Horticulturae, 11(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11010039
Rifka Amalia, Dinar Mindrati Fardhani, & Sharfina Mutia Syarifah. (2024). Biostimulant effects of Moringa oleifera on growth and antioxidant activity in red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) microgreens. BIO Web of Conferences, 127, 01005–01005. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202412701005
Toscano, S., Romano, D., & Patanè, C. (2023). Effect of Application of Biostimulants on the Biomass, Nitrate, Pigments, and Antioxidants Content in Radish and Turnip Microgreens. 13(1), 145–145. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010145