Microalgal Biostimulants and Biofertilisers in Crop Productions

Abstract

Microalgae are attracting the interest of agrochemical industries and farmers, due to their biostimulant and biofertiliser properties. Microalgal biostimulants (MBS) and biofertilisers (MBF) might be used in crop production to increase agricultural sustainability. Biostimulants are products derived from organic material that, applied in small quantities, are able to stimulate the growth and development of several crops under both optimal and stressful conditions. Biofertilisers are products containing living microorganisms or natural substances that are able to improve chemical and biological soil properties, stimulating plant growth, and restoring soil fertility. This review is aimed at reporting developments in the processing of MBS and MBF, summarising the biologically-active compounds, and examining the researches supporting the use of MBS and MBF for managing productivity and abiotic stresses in crop productions. Microalgae are used in agriculture in different applications, such as amendment, foliar application, and seed priming. MBS and MBF might be applied as an alternative technique, or used in conjunction with synthetic fertilisers, crop protection products and plant growth regulators, generating multiple benefits, such as enhanced rooting, higher crop yields and quality and tolerance to drought and salt. Worldwide, MBS and MBF remain largely unexploited, such that this study highlights some of the current researches and future development priorities.

Screening of microalgae liquid extracts for their bio stimulant properties on plant growth, nutrient uptake and metabolite profile of Solanum lycopersicum L.

“…Previous studies have shown that algal extracts and their purified compounds can induce strong physiological responses in plants and increase shoot and/or root weight 5,[16][17][18][19][20] . In addition, microalgae extracts such as polysaccharides have proven to enhance growth of agricultural crops 13,15,21,22 . Sugars for instance act both as effective signalling molecules and as immediate substrates for intermediary metabolism, and could therefore promote plant growth and development 20,23 .…”

Biostimulants and Microorganisms Boost the Nutritional Composition of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Sprouts

“…This, especially, is significant information in the context of this study because buckwheat seeds contain rutin which promotes the growth of fungi [15]. Additionally, algae extracts are gaining acceptance as plant growth promoters (PGPs) as they enhance plant tolerance to a wide range of abiotic stressors and promote growth [16][17][18][19][20]. Similar effects on plants have been observed with nitrophenols [21][22][23].…”

Peer Review #1 of "Assessment of biomass potentials of microalgal communities in open pond raceways using mass cultivation (v0.2)"

“…Microalgae have been used in various industries, such as biofuel, cosmetics, bioremediation, and biocontrol, so we examined the application of microalgae as bioenhancers in soybean plants (Ronga et al, 2019). As shown in Fig.…”

“…(1-6) of OPR 1 has improved growth compared to control groups (1-1 and 1-2), while groups treated with the cleared solution (3-3) or spray (3-6) of OPR 3 display an improved phenotype Manuscript to be reviewed increasing yields (Ronga et al, 2019). For example, inoculation of C. vulgaris and S. dimorphus increases rice yields by improving nitrogen fixation (Garcia-Gonzalez & Sommerfeld, 2016).…”