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Asimakis E, Shehata AA, Eisenreich W, Acheuk F, Lasram S, Basiouni S, Emekci M, Ntougias S, Taner G, May-Simera H, Yilmaz M, Tsiamis G. Algae and Their Metabolites as Potential Bio-Pesticides. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020307. [PMID: 35208762 PMCID: PMC8877611 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing human population necessitates more food production, yet current techniques in agriculture, such as chemical pesticide use, have negative impacts on the ecosystems and strong public opposition. Alternatives to synthetic pesticides should be safe for humans, the environment, and be sustainable. Extremely diverse ecological niches and millions of years of competition have shaped the genomes of algae to produce a myriad of substances that may serve humans in various biotechnological areas. Among the thousands of described algal species, only a small number have been investigated for valuable metabolites, yet these revealed the potential of algal metabolites as bio-pesticides. This review focuses on macroalgae and microalgae (including cyanobacteria) and their extracts or purified compounds, that have proven to be effective antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, nematocides, insecticides, herbicides, and plant growth stimulants. Moreover, the mechanisms of action of the majority of these metabolites against plant pests are thoroughly discussed. The available information demonstrated herbicidal activities via inhibition of photosynthesis, antimicrobial activities via induction of plant defense responses, inhibition of quorum sensing and blocking virus entry, and insecticidal activities via neurotoxicity. The discovery of antimetabolites also seems to hold great potential as one recent example showed antimicrobial and herbicidal properties. Algae, especially microalgae, represent a vast untapped resource for discovering novel and safe biopesticide compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Asimakis
- Laboratory of Systems Microbiology and Applied Genomics, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 2 Seferi St., 30131 Agrinio, Greece;
| | - Awad A. Shehata
- Research and Development Section, PerNaturam GmbH, 56290 Gödenroth, Germany;
| | - Wolfgang Eisenreich
- Bavarian NMR Center—Structural Membrane Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany;
| | - Fatma Acheuk
- Laboratory for Valorization and Conservation of Biological Resources, Faculty of Sciences, University M’Hamed Bougara of Boumerdes, Boumerdes 35000, Algeria;
| | - Salma Lasram
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology of Plants, Borj-Cedria Biotechnology Center. BP. 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia;
| | - Shereen Basiouni
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (S.B.); (H.M.-S.)
| | - Mevlüt Emekci
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Keçiören, Ankara 06135, Turkey;
| | - Spyridon Ntougias
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67132 Xanthi, Greece;
| | - Gökçe Taner
- Department of Bioengineering, Bursa Technical University, Bursa 16310, Turkey;
| | - Helen May-Simera
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (S.B.); (H.M.-S.)
| | - Mete Yilmaz
- Department of Bioengineering, Bursa Technical University, Bursa 16310, Turkey;
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (G.T.)
| | - George Tsiamis
- Laboratory of Systems Microbiology and Applied Genomics, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 2 Seferi St., 30131 Agrinio, Greece;
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (G.T.)
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