We investigated the biostimulant potential of six microalgal species from Nordic collections extracted with two different procedures: thermal hydrolysis with a weak solution of sulfuric acid accompanied by ultrasonication and bead‐milling with aqueous extraction followed by centrifugation. To this aim, we designed a phenotyping pipeline consisting of a root growth assay in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, complemented with greenhouse experiments to evaluate lettuce yield (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Finstar) and photosynthetic performance. The best‐performing hydrolyzed extracts stimulated Arabidopsis root elongation by 8%–13% and lettuce yield by 12%–15%. The in situ measured photosynthetic performance of lettuce was upregulated in the efficient extracts: PSII quantum yield increased by 26%–34%, and thylakoid proton flux increase was in the range of 34%–60%. In contrast, aqueous extracts acquired by bead‐milling showed high dependence on biomass concentration in the extract and an overall plant growth enhancement was not attained in any of the applied dosages. Our results indicate that hydrolysis of the biomass can be a decisive factor for rendering effective plant biostimulants from microalgae.
Present agricultural production typically depends on the intensive use of synthetic pesticides with potentially harmful consequences for humans and the environment. To ensure food security for the rapidly rising global population it is necessary to develop more sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Microalgae possess a large diversity in antimicrobial compounds and are considered one of the most promising sustainable sources of novel biopesticides. Antimicrobial activities of 15 microalgae strains were investigated against a selection of seven common plant pathogens relevant to agricultural production. Several microalgae were identified posessing antimicrobial activity, with an extract of Chlorella sorokiniana showing the strongest growth inhibition of the plant pathogen Phytophthora cactorum. Different pre-treatments like freeze-drying, solvents with different polarities, and extraction methods were analyzed in regards to the level of antimicrobial activity of C. sorokiniana. The best C. sorokiniana extract demonstrated potential for biopesticide application on strawberry leaves infected with P. cactorum. This study reveals the potential of microalgae as natural biopesticide for organic or more sustainable regular agriculture.
Present agricultural production typically depends on the intensive use of synthetic pesticides with potentially harmful consequences for humans and the environment. To ensure food security for the rapidly rising global population it is necessary to develop more sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Microalgae possess a large diversity in antimicrobial compounds and are considered one of the most promising sustainable sources of novel biopesticides. Antimicrobial activities of 15 microalgae strains were investigated against a selection of seven common plant pathogens relevant to agricultural production. Several microalgae were identified to possess antimicrobial activity with an extract of Chlorella sorokiniana showing the strongest growth inhibition of the plant pathogen Phytophthora cactorum. Different pre-treatments like freeze-drying, solvents with different polarities, and extraction methods were analyzed in regards to the level of antimicrobial activity of C. sorokiniana. The best C. sorokiniana extract demonstrated potential for biopesticide application on strawberry leaves infected with P. cactorum. This study reveals the abundant potential of microalgae as natural biopesticide for organic or more sustainable regular agriculture.
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