Germination Study of Some Protein-Based Gels Obtained from By-Products from the Leather Industry on Tomato and Pepper Seeds
Stelica Cristea,
Mihaela-Doina Niculescu,
Alina Perisoara,
Elena Ivan,
Maria Stanca,
Cosmin-Andrei Alexe,
Bianca-Maria Tihauan,
Laura Olariu
Affiliations
Stelica Cristea
Plant Pathology Departament, University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela-Doina Niculescu
Leather Research Department, Research and Development National Institute for Textiles and Leather-Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93, Ion Minulescu Str., 031215 Bucharest, Romania
Alina Perisoara
Plant Pathology Departament, University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Elena Ivan
Plant Pathology Departament, University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Maria Stanca
Leather Research Department, Research and Development National Institute for Textiles and Leather-Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93, Ion Minulescu Str., 031215 Bucharest, Romania
Cosmin-Andrei Alexe
Leather Research Department, Research and Development National Institute for Textiles and Leather-Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93, Ion Minulescu Str., 031215 Bucharest, Romania
Bianca-Maria Tihauan
Research Institute, University of Bucharest-ICUB, Splaiul Independenţei, No. 95, District 5, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Laura Olariu
Academy of Romanian Scientists, 54 Splaiul Independentei, 050094 Bucharest, Romania
This study aimed to evaluate the biostimulant effects of three protein-based gels, GHC 1-B (20% gelatin (GPU-B) obtained by thermal hydrolysis from residual untanned leather and 80% collagen hydrolysates (HCE-B) obtained by alkaline–enzymatic hydrolysis from residual bovine-tanned leather), GHC 2-B (40% keratin hydrolysate (HKU-B) obtained by alkaline–enzymatic hydrolysis from sheep wool + 40% HCE-B + 20% GPU-B), and GHC 3-B (20% GPU-B + 80% hydrolyzed collagen (HPU-B) obtained by thermal and enzymatic hydrolysis from residual untanned leather). A germination study was carried out on pepper and tomato seeds at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 10%. As a result of the study, it was found that all three protein-based gels showed a stimulatory effect on the tomato seeds at a 1% concentration, where the Gi (germination index) was ˂100%. The GHC 2-B variant had the highest stimulatory effect (Gi-190.23%). Pepper seeds have proven to be more sensitive to the gel’s composition. The concentration at which it proved to be non-inhibitory (Gi–88.29%) was 1% in the case of GHC 2-B. It was found that the presence of hydrolyzed keratin in the composition can be a plus compared to the other two protein gels tested due to its composition, which is richer in phytonutrient compounds (e.g., sulfur molecules).
