Moringa leaf extract: A cost-effective and sustainable product to improve plant growth

Given the necessity to find new alternatives as a biostimulant to improve plant growth, Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) has been noticed by the scientific community for being a low-cost and natural product. Several studies have revealed the positive effects of MLE to enhance seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant system, yield, and also confer resistance to a variety of abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, adverse temperatures, and heavy metals. However, we still require to investigate deeply the MLE composition and the different forms available to apply it. Thus, to integrate the current knowledge, this review insight of new approaches to the types of application, concentration utilized, and gathered different types of methodologies to obtain the MLE. In addition, the positive results of MLE to reduce the effects caused by abiotic stresses were discussed. Future studies should focus on identifying new varieties of Moringa to improve the quality of MLE and explore studies of MLE application not only in crop species but also forest species. (C) 2021 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.