Polyaspartic acid (PAA) is a biodegradable polymer synthesized from the naturally occurring amino acid, aspartate. PAA is widely used in crop production as a biostimulant, and studies have reported that it enhances plant growth and yield. However, the mechanisms of PAA mode of action, its dynamics and degradation in soil and plant systems remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of polymer size on plant growth using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, we will look into the dynamics of PAA in the growing media, its interaction with plant roots and how this influences plant growth. To address this objective, plants will be grown in agar-based media under sterile conditions with continuous lighting. The plants will be treated with PAA of different lengths, specifically 14,000 and 27,000 Da and growth parameters will be assessed. The expected results will provide insights into PAA’s role in nutrient acquisition and its potential applications in crop production systems.
