Effect of Chlorella vulgaris as a Potential Bio-fertilizer on Lycopersicon esculentum

The growing global population has intensified food demand, leading to excessive use of synthetic fertilizers that degrade soil health and contribute to the greenhouse effect. As a sustainable alternative, algal biofertilizers, especially those derived from Chlorella vulgaris offer a promising solution for improving crop productivity. This study examines the impact of Chlorella vulgaris-based biofertilizer on tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) by assessing their growth and biochemical responses. Nutrient-rich Chlorella vulgaris, a microalga, was cultivated in Bold’s Basal Media, identified through microscopy, PCR, and Sanger sequencing, and formulated into a Microalgae-based biofertilizer (OD 0.27). From the developed progeny of tomato, three groups were constructed: control, Chlorella-treated, and urea-treated. Chlorella biofertilizer-treated plants grew better, exhibiting longer roots, more leaves, and higher plant height. Biochemical analysis showed an increased amount of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids which tells us that the plant health was improved. However, the analysis of proline concentration was high which means that there was a stress reaction. Although from these findings it can be concluded that chlorella vulgaris has the potential to be used for sustainable agricultural practices, more research needs to be done to better understand how plants respond to stress before promoting it to an industrial scale.