Plant oil or vegetable oil are oils derived from plant sources such as seeds or other edible parts of the plants, leaves, and flowers. Plant oils derived especially from medicinal plants are widely used in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and natural health products industries. In today’s competitive world, where everyone competes for quality and quantity, maximizing oil yield has become important for increasing profits. But how do you ensure plants are producing their highest oil potential?

Boosting oil yield: Why it matters

There are various ways to boost oil content in medicinal plants, and doing so has become important for higher returns. Maintaining plant health and avoiding chlorotic, drought, and other stresses are important for increasing oil production. For this it is important to improve nutrient uptake, reduce plant stress, and adjust growing conditions. Bio-Stimulants like seaweed and mycorrhiza can significantly boost the oil content of the plants.

At Peptech Bioscience, we provide products that are specially designed to increase oil content in plants. Our Seaweed Extract for plant growth and Mycorrhizae provide the best results in increasing plant oil content, and they help in better nutrient uptake, stress resistance, and the overall health of the plant. Peptech Bioscience provides these products for oil content enhancement:

Let’s break down how each component helps

Seaweed Extract: A natural oil booster

Seaweed Extract is a Bio-Stimulant obtained from algae seaweed, particularly the species Ascophyllum nodosum. Seaweed Extract is rich in nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and growth hormones like auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins.

The role of seaweed in plant growth

Seaweed is packed with nutrients and growth hormones that can improve plant growth. Here’s how it can help plants:

• Nutrient boost: Seaweed contains nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and essential trace elements such as zinc and phosphorus. These elements feed the plants, promoting better growth and stronger overall health.
• Improves root development: Seaweed boosts root growth, and it makes plants absorb more nutrients, particularly phosphorus, which is most important in oil synthesis in plants.
• Supports stress resistance: Due to the presence of alginic acid, seaweed helps plants become more tolerant to salinity, drought, and cold stress.

How it Works: Seaweed extracts help medicinal plants increase their oil content through a complex method involving plant hormones like auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins which stimulates secondary metabolite formation, including crucial oils. The extracts deliver critical macronutrients and micronutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium which helps in enzymatic actions in lipid biosynthesis routes. Additionally, by bettering water and nutrient absorption while enhancing photosynthesis and encouraging pathways tied to lipid and volatile oil assembly, the extracts mitigate non-living stresses. Moreover, some longer plants benefited most from seaweed supplements, as their larger size let compounds spread further, yet other shortening plants concentrated enhancements into potent yet pithy packets. The activation of enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase increases the production of fatty acids and increases the formation of oil.

Dosage & Application: For maximum benefits, the Seaweed Extract liquid can be applied as a foliar spray or soil drench. For best results, apply during the early stages of growth and continue at intervals throughout the growing season.

When to apply: Seaweed is most effective when applied during critical growth phases, such as early leaf development, flowering, and oil synthesis. It assures that the energy of the plant is focused on the production of oil.

Mycorrhiza: The underground partner

Mycorrhiza is a type of beneficial fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. It forms hyphae by growing in and around the plant roots, extending the plant’s root system. The fungi absorb nutrients and water from the soil and then transfer them to the plant’s root cells. For oil-yielding crops, mycorrhiza plays an important role in:

• Nutrient uptake like phosphorus: Phosphorus is the most important nutrient in oil biosynthesis. Mycorrhizal fungi increase the surface area of roots, which allows plants to absorb more nutrients, specifically phosphorus. This leads to more oil content in medicinal plants.
• Water absorption: In the areas that are more prone to drought, mycorrhiza helps plants access water from deeper soil layers. 
• Soil health: Mycorrhiza improves soil structure and promotes a healthy microbiome. This can ensure great plant growth over time.

How it Works: It significantly enhances oil content in medicinal plants by improving phosphorus absorption which is a critical element for ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) synthesis and metabolic energy transfer. Phosphorus enhances biosynthetic pathways for secondary metabolites, including essential oils. Mycorrhiza boosts nutrient uptake, chlorophyll levels, and water-use efficiency (WUE), optimizing photosynthesis and carbon assimilation. This supports the production of energy-rich compounds required for lipid and volatile oil biosynthesis. Mycorrhizal colonization also triggers hormonal and metabolic pathways that upregulate phytoconstituent synthesis, while improving drought and salinity tolerance to maintain oil production under stress. These interactions ensure increased yield and quality of essential oils

Dosage & Application

Mycorrhiza can be applied directly to the soil or mixed with seed or soil in larger applications. Applying it early is important, ideally at planting or during the early root development phase.

When to Apply: The best time to apply Mycorrhiza is during planting or transplanting to allow the fungus to establish a strong relationship with the plant from the start. It continues to support the plants in better nutrient absorption which helps in oil production throughout its life cycle.

Conclusion

By using seaweed and mycorrhiza in their cultivation, growers can greatly boost oil yield from medicinal plants. At Peptech Bioscience we provide good quality, user friendly Bio-stimulants and Bio-fertilizers to retailers and distributors to deliver tools that growers need to thrive. Want to help your customers achieve higher oil yields? Just contact us and find out how our solutions can yield a change.