M. Ros*1, P. Lidon1, A. Hernandez-Lara1, J. M. Orts2, J. A. Pascual 1
1Department of Soil and Water Conservation and OrganicWaste Management, Centro de Edafologia y Biología, Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), University Campus of Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
2Departament of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Prof. García Gonzalez 2, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
(Manuscript received 21 May 2025; accepted for publication 3 February 2026)
* email: margaros@cebas.csic.es
Abstract. Frass, the excrement of Tenebrio molitor larvae, contains significant amounts of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, making it a promising biofertilizer. However, frass derived from larvae fed with polyurethane (PU) foams remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the growth and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles of Bellis perennis cultivated with frass from T. molitor fed either bran (BRAN) or PU foams (PU), compared to plants grown with conventional chemical fertilizer (FERT). Plant growth, flowering, nutrient content in both plants and floral VOC emissions were analyzed. PU-derived frass showed higher nitrogen and calcium levels than BRAN-frass and resulted in increased flower production throughout the experiment, although plant biomass did not differ significantly among treatments. VOC analysis revealed distinct profiles associated with BRAN- and PU-derived frass, including compounds with known antimicrobial properties. These findings suggest that PU-frass is a viable biofertilizer for ornamental plants and may influence flower-associated chemical signaling.