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The application of biostimulants derived from extracts of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum has long been accepted by growers to have productivity benefits in stressed crops. The impact of the processing method of the A . nodosum biomass is also known to affect compositional and physicochemical properties. However, the identification of the mechanisms by which processing parameters of Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (ANEs) affect biostimulant performance in abiotically stressed crops is still poorly understood. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of two carbohydrate-rich formulations derived from A . nodosum : C129, an ANE obtained at low temperatures through a gentle extraction and the novel proprietary PSI-494 extracted under high temperatures and alkaline conditions. We tested the efficiency of both ANEs in unstressed conditions as well as in mitigating long-term moderate heat stress in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum , cv. Micro Tom) during the reproductive stage. Both ANEs showed significant effects on flower development, pollen viability, and fruit production in both conditions. However, PSI-494 significantly surpassed the heat stress tolerance effect of C129, increasing fruit number by 86% compared to untreated plants growing under heat stress conditions. The variation in efficacy was associated with different molecular mass distribution profiles of the ANEs. Specific biochemical and transcriptional changes were observed with enhanced thermotolerance. PSI-494 was characterized as an ANE formulation with lower molecular weight constituents, which was associated with an accumulation of soluble sugars, and gene transcription of protective heat shock proteins (HSPs) in heat stressed tomato flowers before fertilization. These findings suggest that specialized ANE biostimulants targeting the negative effects of periods of heat stress during the important reproductive stage can lead to significant productivity gains.

Intensive agricultural production utilizes large amounts of nitrogen (N) mineral fertilizers that are applied to the soil to secure high crop yields. Unfortunately, up to 65% of this N fertilizer is not taken up by crops and is lost to the environment. To compensate these issues, growers usually apply more fertilizer than crops actually need, contributing significantly to N pollution and to GHG emissions. In order to combat the need for such large N inputs, a better understanding of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and agronomic solutions that increase NUE within crops is required. The application of biostimulants derived from extracts of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum has long been accepted by growers as a sustainable crop production input. However, little is known on how Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (ANEs) can influence mechanisms of N uptake and assimilation in crops to allow reduced N application. In this work, a significant increase in nitrate accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana 6 days after applying the novel proprietary biostimulant PSI-362 was observed. Follow-up studies in barley crops revealed that PSI-362 increases NUE by 29.85–60.26% under 75% N input in multi-year field trials. When PSI-362 was incorporated as a coating to the granular N fertilizer calcium ammonium nitrate and applied to barley crop, a coordinated stimulation of N uptake and assimilation markers was observed. A key indicator of biostimulant performance was increased nitrate content in barley shoot tissue 22 days after N fertilizer application (+17.9–72.2%), that was associated with gene upregulation of root nitrate transporters ( NRT1.1 , NRT2.1 , and NRT1.5 ). Simultaneously, PSI-362 coated fertilizer enhanced nitrate reductase and glutamine synthase activities, while higher content of free amino acids, soluble protein and photosynthetic pigments was measured. These biological changes at stem elongation stage were later translated into enhanced NUE traits in harvested grain. Overall, our results support the agronomic use of this engineered ANE that allowed a reduction in N fertilizer usage while maintaining or increasing crop yield. The data suggests that it can be part of the solution for the successful implementation of mitigation policies for water quality and GHG emissions from N fertilizer usage.

Phosphorous is one of the major limiting factors determining plant growth. Current agricultural practices mainly rely on the use of chemical fertilizers posing threat to the ecosystem. In this study, the application of an Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE) in phosphorous (P)-limited conditions improved the fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of Zea mays . ANE-treated Z. mays grown under P-limited conditions showed a higher P content than the control. ANE activated simultaneous responses, at multiple levels, in Z. mays grown under P-limited conditions as seen from the regulation of gene expression at the whole-plant level to specific biochemical responses on a subcellular level. ANE-supplemented Z. mays grown under P-limited conditions also showed reduced electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation by an improved membrane stability. ANE treatment reduced P-limitation-induced oxidative damage in Z. mays by reducing H 2 O 2 and O 2 - accumulation. Furthermore, ANE also induced the accumulation of the total contents of soluble sugars, amino acids, phenolics, and flavonoids. Gene expression analysis suggested that ANE differentially modulated the expression of P-starvation responsive genes involved in metabolic, signal transduction, and developmental pathways in Z. mays . ANE also modulated the expression of genes involved in sugar, lipid, and secondary metabolism. Thus, this study illustrated the role of ANE in improving the productivity of Z. mays , an important crop, in P-limited conditions. Furthermore, it sets the framework to increase agricultural productivity in nutrient deficient soils using a sustainable, eco-friendly strategy.

Eucheuma denticulatum and Kappaphycus alvarezii are two of the most commercially important, cultivated carrageenophytes in Southeast Asia. Their large-scale farming through repeated vegetative propagation and virtual monocropping has resulted in a variety of phyconomic issues. The efficacy of two European, commercial liquid extracts from the brown seaweeds, i.e., Ascophyllum nodosum (ANE), a fucoid, and Laminaria digitata (LDE), a kelp, on the direct formation of axes and survival of these two eucheumatoids was examined using tissue culture techniques. Seaweed apical sections (2–3 mm long) were cultured for 45 days, with different concentrations of ANE and LDE (i.e., 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mL L −1 ) and compared with a control (UV-filtered seawater). Lower concentrations (< 1.5 mL L −1 ) of both liquid extracts promoted morphogenesis and growth of E. denticulatum and K. alvarezii in tissue culture, with the dilution rate of 0.05 mL LDE L −1 resulting in a high percentage survival (i.e., 95.3 ± 0.9%), formation of direct axes (i.e., 95.3 ± 0.9%), and the longest length (i.e., 10.0 ± 0.3 mm) for E. denticulatum after a typical 45-day culture period. A 0.5 mL ANE L −1 concentration was found to be beneficial for the tissue culture of K. alvarezii , given the relatively high final survival and direct axes formation (i.e., 96.2 ± 2.2%) and axes length (i.e., 8.2 ± 0.1 mm). This study supports the application of these temperate, brown seaweed-derived extracts as a phycobiostimulant enrichment in eucheumatoid micropropagation for mass production of plantlets for out-planting purposes.

Abiotic stress, especially drought, is one of the principal constraints of crop productivity and is expected to worsen with climate change in the near future. This warrants the development of new technologies to decrease the impact of drought on crop productivity. Biostimulants made from seaweed extracts are one of the relatively new biological based inputs that can help mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress on plants by enhancing growth, development, and stress tolerance. The current study evaluated the impact of Ascophyllum nodosum extract (SWE) on tomato plants grown under different levels of water stress. Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the effect of foliar spray (0.5%) of the extract on stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and biomass, for plants grown at moisture levels of 100%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity. A field study was also conducted with irrigation maintained at 100% and 25% (irrigation capacity). Additionally, the expression levels of marker genes associated with drought tolerance were evaluated using qPCR studies for Metacaspase 1 (LeMCA1), Non-specific lipid-transfer protein 2 (Itpg2), Late embryogenesis abundant protein (LEA) and Delta 1-pyrroline-5- carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) genes. Assays were also conducted on plants for osmolyte content including proline and glycine betaine. Furthermore, the activities of antioxidant defense enzymes were evaluated for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX). The results of the greenhouse study indicated higher stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and Fv/Fm in stressed plants that were foliar sprayed with the A. nodosum extract. Seaweed extract-treated plants under water-stress conditions also had significantly greater shoot and root dry weights compared to control plants. The relative expression levels of the marker genes were also significantly increased in SWE sprayed plants compared to control plants along with increased antioxidant enzymes activities and osmolyte contents. The field experiments revealed that seaweed extract-treated plants had significantly higher plant height and total yield under reduced irrigation compared to control plants, although both parameters remained lower than those seen under full irrigation. This study has produced encouraging findings on the application of SWE in crop systems, indicating that it may have a positive role in mitigating the effects of drought stress.

Abstract The effects of a commercial Ascophyllum seaweed extract (ASWE) on the growth parameters of sweet pepper plants were studied under grow box home garden conditions in the Caribbean. Grow box cultivation of vegetables in the backyard is very popular in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region. The use of synthetic chemicals should be avoided under home conditions due to the underlying hazards and for biosafety reasons. The application of ASWE at the rate of 0.5% as a foliar spray in sweet pepper plants under grow box home garden conditions improved the plant growth parameters, increased the fruit number, and also enhanced the shelf life of the harvested sweet pepper fruits. Soil drenching of ASWE to plants was less effective compared to foliar application. ASWE foliar spray also reduced the intensity of diseases and pests in plants and further promoted the prevalence of natural enemies. The spraying of ASWE significantly increased the biochemical constituents such as chlorophyll content, reducing sugars, phenol, and amino acids compared to the water control. The activity of the defense-related enzymes (chitinase, β-1,3 glucanase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), and phenolic content was significantly greater in sweet pepper plants treated with ASWE treatment compared to the control. Seed treatment by priming in 0.5% ASWE significantly increased the germination percentage, shoot, and root length of seedlings. The positive effects of ASWE might be attributed to the chemical makeup, native to the seaweed extract, which is believed to contain several organic components, including dissolved nutrients and growth-promoting and diverse functional organic molecules that can induce multiple growth effects in plants. This study demonstrates that ASWE can be readily used under home garden conditions as this would be very conservative to the environment as well as promote the system of organic cultivation.

Algae are existing macroscopic materials with substantial benefits, including as important growth regulators and macronutrients and micronutrients for the growth of healthy crop plants. Biofertilizers obtained from algae are identified as novel production fertilizers or innovative biofertilizers without the detrimental impacts of chemicals. Seaweeds contain many water-soluble minerals and nutrients that plants can easily absorb and that are valuable for crop plants’ growth. At present, Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis extract outperforms chemical fertilizers in terms of increasing seed germination, plant development, and yield, as well as protecting plants from severe biotic and abiotic stresses. A. nodosum contains bioactive compounds that exhibit an array of biological activities such as antibiotic, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic activities. A. nodosum extract (AnE) contains alginic acid and poly-uronides that improve soil’s water-carrying ability, morsel structure, aeration, and capillary action, stimulating root systems in plants, increasing microbial activity in soil, and improving mineral absorption and availability. The scientific literature has comprehensively reviewed these factors, providing information about the different functions of A. nodosum in plant growth, yield, and quality, the alleviation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants, and their effects on the interactions of plant root systems and microbes. The application of AnE significantly improved the germination rate, increased the growth of lateral roots, enhanced water and nutrient use efficiencies, increased antioxidant activity, increased phenolic and flavonoid contents, increased chlorophyll and nutrient contents, alleviated the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses in different crop plants, and even improved the postharvest quality of different fruits.

Soybean is one of the most valuable commercial crops because of its high protein, carbohydrate, and oil content. The land area cultivated with soybean in subtropical regions, such as Brazil, is continuously expanding, in some instances at the expense of carbon storing natural habitats. Strategies to decrease yield/seed losses and increase production efficiency are urgently required to meet global demand for soybean in a sustainable manner. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of an Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE), Sealicit TM , in increasing yields of different soybean varieties, in two geographical regions (Canada and Brazil). In addition, we investigated the potential of Sealicit TM to reduce pod shattering at the trials in Brazil. Three different concentrations of Sealicit TM were applied to pod shatter-susceptible (SS) UFUS 6901 and shatter-resistant (SR) UFUS 7415 varieties to assess their impact on pod firmness. SS variety demonstrated a significant decrease in pod shattering, which coincided with deregulation of GmPDH1.1 and GmSHAT1–5 expression, genes that determine pod dehiscence, and higher seed weight per pod. Sealicit TM application to the SR variety did not significantly alter its inherent pod shatter resistance, but provided higher increases in seed yield at harvest. This yield increase maybe associated with to other yield components stimulated by the biostimulant. This work demonstrates that Sealicit TM , which has previously been shown to improve pod firmness in Arabidopsis and selected commercial oilseed rape varieties through IND gene down-regulation, also has the potential to improve pod resistance and seed productivity in soybean, a member of the legume family sharing a similar strategy for seed dispersal.

Most vegetable crops are salt sensitive, growing inadequately in salinised soils due to the accumulation of toxic ions from prolonged irrigation regimes. Plant biostimulants are a potential tool that can be used to counteract salinity stress and increase crop yield. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of the proprietary protein hydrolysate and Ascophyllum nodosum-derived biostimulant PSI-475 to activate salinity stress tolerance responses in plants. After characterising PSI-475 composition, initial biostimulant activity screening was performed using Arabidopsis thaliana. PSI-475 stimulated primary root growth (+5.5–20.0%) and photosynthetic pigments content (18.8–63.0%) under unstressed and salinity stressed conditions. Subsequently, PSI-475 was assessed by foliar application on tomato plants (cv. Micro-Tom) that received a saline irrigation water program, which caused a significant decrease in fruit yield (−37.5%). Stressed plants treated with PSI-475 increased this parameter by 31.8% versus the stressed control. Experimental data suggest that PSI-475 can alleviate the negative effects of saline irrigation by improving osmotic adjustment and ion homeostasis markers. PSI-475 was also able to provide significant yield benefits in unstressed plants (+16.9%) that were associated with improved leaf biochemical markers. The data presented support the use of this precision biostimulant to target the negative effects of salinity stress from irrigation.

The aim of this study was to improve phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) from contaminated soils using Ascophillum nodosum extract (ANE). The experiment was designed in different groups: A-Planting of sorghum within 6 and 12 weeks in unpolluted soil; B-Planting of sorghum within 6 and 12 weeks at three concentrations, as follows: 10 mg kg -1 Cd + 250 mg kg -1 Pb; 30 mg kg -1 Cd + 500 mg kg -1 Pb; and 100 mg kg -1 Cd + 1000 mg kg -1 Pb along with ANE; C-Planting of sorghum within 6 and 12 weeks at the above three concentrations of Cd and Pb without ANE. The results showed that the use of ANE significantly increases the root and shoot biomass, which subsequently improves the uptake of heavy metals from the soil (p < 0.05). After 12 weeks of using seaweed extract (ANE), the root and shoot biomass of sorghum at the three concentrations of Cd + Pb, i.e., 10 + 250, 30 + 500, and 100 + 1000 (Cd + Pb) mg kg -1 increased by 40.7% and 22.4%, 40% and 33.6%, and 100% and 31.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). Planting sorghum along with ANE significantly improved the uptake of heavy metals from the soil. Therefore, Ascophyllum nodosum -based biostimulants can be considered as a green technology to improve the extraction of heavy metals from soil. Highlights High concentration of heavy metals reduces root and shoot biomass. Sorghum biomass is an important factor for the uptake of heavy metals. The presence of sorghum improves the bioavailability of heavy metals in the soil. Ascophyllum nodosum extract promotes plant growth and phytoextraction.