Cyanobacteria: A Natural Source for Controlling Agricultural Plant Diseases Caused by Fungi and Oomycetes and Improving Plant Growth

Abstract

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are a group of prokaryotic microorganisms largely distributed in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. They produce a wide range of bioactive compounds that are mostly used in cosmetics, animal feed and human food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, and the production of biofuels. Nowadays, the research concerning the use of cyanobacteria in agriculture has pointed out their potential as biofertilizers and as a source of bioactive compounds, such as phycobiliproteins, for plant pathogen control and as inducers of plant systemic resistance. The use of alternative products in place of synthetic ones for plant disease control is also encouraged by European Directive 2009/128/EC. The present up-to-date review gives an overall view of the recent results on the use of cyanobacteria for both their bioprotective effect against fungal and oomycete phytopathogens and their plant biostimulant properties. We highlight the need for considering several factors for a proper and sustainable management of agricultural crops, ranging from the mechanisms by which cyanobacteria reduce plant diseases and modulate plant resistance to the enhancement of plant growth.

Effect of Scenedesmus sp. CHK0059 on Strawberry Microbiota Community

“…Microalgae are well reported as effective plant biostimulants and biological control agents against fungal pathogens, nematodes, and even viruses [ 6 , 7 ]. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of plant microbiota community altering by Scenedesmus CHK0059, which has been well documented as a plant biostimulant [ 11 ], although its mode of action has not been defined.…”

“…Among various microalgae species, the genera Chlorella , Chlamydomonas , and Scenedesmus are under active study for use in sustainable agriculture [ 3 , 4 ]. Chlorella , Scenedesmus , and Chlamydomonas are all known to produce diverse bioactive metabolites and have a high potential to be beneficial for various crops [ 5 - 7 ].…”

“…Scenedesmus sp. CHK0059, the strain used in this study, is a single cell known by the species name Chlorella fusca , the genus of which was reclassified based on physiological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics [ 6 ]. Genus Scenedesmus is also an evolutionarily important microalga because some of the mitochondrial codons are non-standard, placing it in a different class Chlorophyceae [ 9 ].…”

Trending Killers of Plants; An Overview of the Most Prevailing Pathogenic Fungi

“…Hence, these fungi are responsible for anthracnose spots, as well as blights and rots on aerial plant parts and after harvest. The species in this genus are responsible for significant damage to economically important crops, particularly fruiting plants, vegetable crops, and ornamental plants (Righini, Francioso, Martel Quintana, & Roberti, 2022;Zakaria, 2021). Colletotrichum spp.…”

Cyanobacteria: A Futuristic Effective Tool in Sustainable Agriculture

“…They are considered a subset of the bacterial kingdom. This subset is responsible for a significant amount of N 2 fixation, reduction of the level of CO 2 , solubilization of phosphate, and the production of plant growth regulators by releasing phytohormones, polypeptides, amino acids, polysaccharides, and siderophores [ 6 ]. Cyanobacteria are composed of numerous organic inclusion units capable of carrying out a wide range of specialized functions, which give cyanobacteria their unique tasks and applications in sustainable agriculture [ 7 ].…”