New Compositions with Crosslinked and Uncrosslinked Collagen Polydispersions for Systemic Treatments in Agriculture

The main property of collagen polydispersions is their molecular profile, dependent on both raw materials origin and the extraction process. The paper presents collagen extracts from leather by-products, by thermal and enzymatic hydrolysis at alkaline pH with improved properties by additivation with glycerol and crosslinking with Tara tannin extract. Structural analysis by Dynamic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy showed manifestations which may be attributed to the interaction of glycerol and Tara tanning extract with polypeptide chains and to the role of glycerol as plasticizer, partially compensated by the addition of Tara crosslinking. New combinations of crosslinked and uncrosslinked collagen polydispersions were applied in cereals and legume seed treatment, so as to provide free amino acid content immediately available for stimulation of germination and a layer of polypeptides that would slowly release amino acids for growth stimulation. The results were quantified by an increase in cereal seed germination of over 15% and a much more pronounced development of plants, which have reached lengths over 10% higher compared to untreated seeds. For the most of legumes, the new treatment led to development of total biomass (root and cotyledons) and to a higher permeability for the water imbibition of the seeds.