ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES AS PLANT BIOSTIMULANTS- A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Teklay Asgedom Teferi (PhD)*, Saba Kifle Mulugeta (MSc), Biniam Abdissa Gemeda (MSc), Tsehay Getachew Mulatu (MSc)

ABSTRACT

The pursuit of sustainable agriculture has intensified the search for effectivebiostimulants to enhance crop productivity and resilience. Among the variouscategories, protein hydrolysates (PHs) have gained significant attention for theirpositive effects on plant growth, nutrient efficiency, and abiotic stress tolerance.While plant-derived PHs is widely studied, this mini-review focuses on the emergingrole of animal-derived protein hydrolysates (APHs) as potent plant biostimulants.Sourced from by-products of the animal processing industry (e.g., collagen, epithelialtissues, meat, and feathers), APHs are rich in peptides, amino acids, and otherbioactive compounds. The review synthesizes current knowledge on the productionmethods of APHs, primarily through chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis, and howthese processes influence their bioactive properties. We discuss the direct andindirect mechanisms of action by which APHs influence plant physiology, includingthe stimulation of root development, enhancement of nutrient uptake (particularlynitrogen), and modulation of key metabolic pathways and hormonal activity.Furthermore, evidence of their efficacy in mitigating various abiotic stresses, such asdrought and salinity, is summarized. Finally, the abstract addresses the challengesand future perspectives for the widespread adoption of APHs, including the need forstandardized characterization, a deeper understanding of their structure-activityrelationship, and considerations for their integration into sustainable croppingsystems, highlighting their value in a circular economy model

Keywords:

Animal Protein Hydrolysates, Plant Biostimulants, Sustainable
Agriculture, Peptides, Nutrient Use Efficiency, Abiotic Stress, Circular Economy

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