Borage Extracts as Biostimulants of Plant Growth and Development

Plants can be an important source of bioactive compounds that can be used for several purposes. In agriculture, there is an increasing interest in biostimulant production as innovative agronomic tools to enhance crop productivity and tolerance against abiotic stresses. Biostimulants are usually obtained from raw materials rich in bioactive molecules, and botanicals can represent a source for the industrial production of biostimulants. Among the different plant species, there is a particular interest in borage (Borago officinalis L.) since is rich in bioactive compounds and has been largely used in popular medicine and in the foodstuff. Recently, borage has been used for biostimulant production. The bioactive compounds have been extracted through maceration in water. The extract has been active in the increase yield and stimulating the plant secondary metabolism. The application of borage extract increased the yield and photosynthesis of lettuce, and at biochemical level the activation of phenylpropanoids with an increase in antioxidant compounds with positive effect of produce quality was done.