Nutritional and Nutraceutical Value of Vegetable Crops as Affected by Biostimulants Application

Biostimulants are formulated products of biological origin that are used in agriculture to improve plant productivity, produce quality and tolerance to certain stresses. The interest in this new heterogeneous class of compounds is increasing also due to the lower environmental impact of biostimulants in comparison to synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. In addition, the application of biostimulants can improve the health‐related properties of some plant‐derived foods, by stimulating the accumulation of secondary metabolites and phytonutrients in various organs. The heterogenicity of formulations composition and the difficulty to identify the exact mode and mechanisms of action of these products represent a challenge for the process of rationalisation of this sector. For these reasons, the number of researches and experimentations on biostimulants in increasing as well as the level of knowledge in this field.