**3. Biostimulators to enhance cucumber growth**

#### **3.1 Lactate**

According to previous investigations, lactates (salts of lactic acid) seem to produce bioregulatory effects. The application of lactates was tested as an approach to improve the nutrient balance and plant vitality. Investigations have shown that lactates have more stable bonds with several metal ions than other chelates.

*Growth Promoting and Stabilizing of Cucumber Plants Cultivated in Soilless Cultivation… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96536*

Therefore, substances have been used as fertilizers and as bioregulators. Lactates are available under the brand name LACTOFOL® [5, 6]. That suspension fertilizer was designed mainly for foliar application and patented as a plant growth and development regulator. The composition of LACTOFOL O® is shown in **Table 2**.
