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Wazeer H, Shridhar Gaonkar S, Doria E, Pagano A, Balestrazzi A, Macovei A. Plant-Based Biostimulants for Seeds in the Context of Circular Economy and Sustainability. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1004. [PMID: 38611532 PMCID: PMC11013454 DOI: 10.3390/plants13071004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Plant-based biostimulants (PBs), agents rich in bioactive compounds, are emerging as key players able to sustainably improve plant growth and crop productivity to address food security. PBs are generally applied as foliar spray or soil irrigation, while more recently, the application as seed priming treatments is being envisaged as a highly sustainable method to also improve seed quality and germination. Therefore, this review proposes to explore the use of PBs for the seeds industry, specifically discussing about the relevance of product market values, sustainable methods for their production, why and how PBs are used for seed priming, and pinpointing specific strengths and challenges. The collected research studies indicate that PBs applied to seeds result in improved germination, seedling growth, and stress tolerance, although the molecular mechanisms at work are still largely overlooked. The high variability of bioactive molecules and used sources point towards a huge reservoir of nature-based solutions in support of sustainable agriculture practices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Enrico Doria
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘L. Spallanzani’, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.W.); (S.S.G.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
| | | | | | - Anca Macovei
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘L. Spallanzani’, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (H.W.); (S.S.G.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
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Morillas-España A, Pérez-Crespo R, Villaró-Cos S, Rodríguez-Chikri L, Lafarga T. Integrating microalgae-based wastewater treatment, biostimulant production, and hydroponic cultivation: a sustainable approach to water management and crop production. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1364490. [PMID: 38425996 PMCID: PMC10902165 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1364490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A natural appearing microalgae-bacteria consortium was used to process urban wastewater. The process was done in an 80 m2 raceway reactor and the results were compared to an identical reactor operated using freshwater supplemented with commercial fertilisers. The biomass harvesting was done using commercial ultrafiltration membranes to reduce the volume of culture centrifuged. The membrane allowed achieving a biomass concentration of ∼9-10 g L-1. The process proposed avoids the use of centrifuges and the drying of the biomass, two of the most energy consuming steps of conventional processes. The specific growth rate in freshwater and the wastewater-based media was estimated as 0.30 ± 0.05 and 0.24 ± 0.02 days-1, respectively (p < 0.05). The maximum concentration reached at the end of the batch phase was 0.96 ± 0.03 and 0.83 ± 0.07 g L-1 when the biomass was produced using freshwater and wastewater, respectively (p < 0.05). The total nitrogen removal capacity of the system was on average 1.35 g m-2·day-1; nitrogen assimilation into biomass represented 60%-95% of this value. Furthermore, the P-PO4 3- removal capacity of the system varied from 0.15 to 0.68 g m-2·day-1. The outlet effluent of the reactor was used as a nutrient source in the hydroponic production of zucchini seedlings, leading to an increase in the root dry weight and the stem diameter compared to the water alone. The produced biomass showed potential for use as feedstock to produce plant biostimulants with positive effects on root development and chlorophyll retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainoa Morillas-España
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almeria-CIEMAT, Almeria, Spain
| | - Raúl Pérez-Crespo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain
| | - Silvia Villaró-Cos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almeria-CIEMAT, Almeria, Spain
| | | | - Tomas Lafarga
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain
- CIESOL Solar Energy Research Centre, Joint Centre University of Almeria-CIEMAT, Almeria, Spain
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Chabili A, Minaoui F, Hakkoum Z, Douma M, Meddich A, Loudiki M. A Comprehensive Review of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria-Based Biostimulants for Agriculture Uses. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:159. [PMID: 38256713 PMCID: PMC10820584 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Significant progress has been achieved in the use of biostimulants in sustainable agricultural practices. These new products can improve plant growth, nutrient uptake, crop yield and quality, stress adaptation and soil fertility, while reducing agriculture's environmental footprint. Although it is an emerging market, the biostimulant sector is very promising, hence the increasing attention of the scientific community and agro-industry stakeholders in finding new sources of plant biostimulants. Recently, pro- and eucaryotic microalgae have gained prominence and can be exploited as biostimulants due to their ability to produce high-value-added metabolites. Several works revealed the potential of microalgae- and cyanobacteria-based biostimulants (MCBs) as plant growth promoters and stress alleviators, as well as encouraging results pointing out that their use can address current and future agricultural challenges. In contrast to macroalgae biostimulants, the targeted applications of MBs in agriculture are still in their earlier stages and their commercial implementation is constrained by the lack of research and cost of production. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview on the use of this promising new category of plant biostimulants in agriculture and to highlight the current knowledge on their application prospects. Based on the prevailing state of the art, we aimed to roadmap MCB formulations from microalgae and cyanobacteria strain selection, algal biomass production, extraction techniques and application type to product commercialization and farmer and consumer acceptance. Moreover, we provide examples of successful trials demonstrating the beneficial applications of microalgal biostimulants as well as point out bottlenecks and constraints regarding their successful commercialization and input in sustainable agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer Chabili
- Water, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco; (A.C.); (F.M.); (Z.H.)
| | - Farah Minaoui
- Water, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco; (A.C.); (F.M.); (Z.H.)
| | - Zineb Hakkoum
- Water, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco; (A.C.); (F.M.); (Z.H.)
| | - Mountasser Douma
- Polydisciplinary Faculty of Khouribga (FPK), Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Khouribga 25000, Morocco;
| | - Abdelilah Meddich
- Laboratory of Agro-Food, Biotechnologies, and Valorization of Plant Bioresources, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco;
| | - Mohammed Loudiki
- Water, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco; (A.C.); (F.M.); (Z.H.)
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Sánchez-Quintero Á, Fernandes SCM, Beigbeder JB. Overview of microalgae and cyanobacteria-based biostimulants produced from wastewater and CO 2 streams towards sustainable agriculture: A review. Microbiol Res 2023; 277:127505. [PMID: 37832502 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
For a long time, marine macroalgae (seaweeds) have been used to produce commercial biostimulants in order to ensure both productivity and quality of agricultural crops under abiotic stress. With similar biological properties, microalgae have slowly attracted the scientific community and the biostimulant industry, in particular because of their ability to be cultivated on non-arable lands with high biomass productivity all year long. Moreover, the recent strategies of culturing these photosynthetic microorganisms using wastewater and CO2 opens the possibility to produce large quantity of biomass at moderate costs while integrating local and circular economy approaches. This paper aims to provide a state of the art review on the development of microalgae and cyanobacteria based biostimulants, focusing on the different cultivation, extraction and application techniques available in the literature. Emphasis will be placed on microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivation using liquid and gaseous effluents as well as emerging green-extraction approaches, taking in consideration the actual European regulatory framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángela Sánchez-Quintero
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, IPREM, CNRS, 64 600 Anglet, France; MANTA-Marine Materials Research Group, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, 64 600 Anglet, France; APESA, Pôle valorisation, 3 chemin de Sers, 64121 Montardon, France
| | - Susana C M Fernandes
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, IPREM, CNRS, 64 600 Anglet, France; MANTA-Marine Materials Research Group, Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, 64 600 Anglet, France.
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