Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality

Boran İkiz; Hayriye Yıldız Daşgan; İlker Yıldız; Tuğçe Temtek

doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4

Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality

Abstract

The use of microbial biostimulants has become an important strategy for improving the productivity and quality of soilless vegetable production systems. However, the potential role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in hydroponic crop production remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluated the effects of three LAB strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Levilactobacillus brevis (LB), and Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP), their combined mixture, and a commercial PGPR-based product, Rhizofill, on the growth, yield, physiological performance, and nutritional quality of lettuce grown in a floating hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using Batavia-type lettuce cv. ‘Caipira’ in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Bacterial suspensions were applied to the nutrient solution at 7-day intervals. Bacterial inoculations significantly improved plant growth, yield, SPAD chlorophyll index, leaf sap EC, and antioxidant-related quality traits compared with the untreated control. Among the tested treatments, LP showed the strongest overall performance, increasing plant fresh weight and total yield by 34.0% and 36.0%, respectively, compared with the control. LP also enhanced total phenolic, flavonoid, and L-ascorbic acid contents, indicating a simultaneous improvement in productivity and nutritional quality. LB was particularly effective in promoting root fresh weight and produced the lowest nitrate accumulation among all treatments. Compared with Rhizofill, LP showed equal or superior performance in several growth and quality parameters, suggesting that selected LAB strains may provide an effective alternative to conventional PGPR-based microbial biostimulants. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of LAB, particularly L. plantarum, as emerging microbial biostimulants for sustainable hydroponic lettuce production.

Keywords

Floating culture, Microbial inoculant, Rhizofill, Antioxidant compounds, Nitrate accumulation, SPAD index

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Vegetable Growing and Treatment

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Boran İkiz ^*
0000-0003-3012-4533
Türkiye

Hayriye Yıldız Daşgan
0000-0002-0403-1627
Türkiye

İlker Yıldız
0000-0001-7800-3197
Türkiye

Tuğçe Temtek
0009-0009-0288-6689
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

August 29, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

June 5, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 15, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA98JG84FR

APA

İkiz, B., Daşgan, H. Y., Yıldız, İ., & Temtek, T. (2026). Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, Advanced Online Publication, 567-577. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4

AMA

1.İkiz B, Daşgan HY, Yıldız İ, Temtek T. Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):567-577. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4

Chicago

İkiz, Boran, Hayriye Yıldız Daşgan, İlker Yıldız, and Tuğçe Temtek. 2026. “Biostimulant Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Hydroponic Lettuce Production: Growth and Nutritional Quality”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication: 567-77. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4.

EndNote

İkiz B, Daşgan HY, Yıldız İ, Temtek T (August 1, 2026) Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences Advanced Online Publication 567–577.

IEEE

[1]B. İkiz, H. Y. Daşgan, İ. Yıldız, and T. Temtek, “Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 567–577, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4.

ISNAD

İkiz, Boran - Daşgan, Hayriye Yıldız - Yıldız, İlker - Temtek, Tuğçe. “Biostimulant Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Hydroponic Lettuce Production: Growth and Nutritional Quality”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences. Advanced Online Publication (August 1, 2026): 567-577. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4.

JAMA

1.İkiz B, Daşgan HY, Yıldız İ, Temtek T. Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;:567–577.

MLA

İkiz, Boran, et al. “Biostimulant Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Hydroponic Lettuce Production: Growth and Nutritional Quality”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication, Aug. 2026, pp. 567-7, doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4.

Vancouver

1.Boran İkiz, Hayriye Yıldız Daşgan, İlker Yıldız, Tuğçe Temtek. Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026 Aug. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):567-7. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.4

International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Food Sciences

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