Seaweed Extract as A Biostimulant and a Pathogen Controlling Agent in Plants

摘要

Seaweeds are green, brown and red marine macroalgae. These marine macroalgae are considered to be an excellent natural bio source in different aspects of agriculture fields. The extracts of brown seaweed are widely used in the horticulture and agricultural crops for their plant growth promoting effects and for their ameliorating effect on crop tolerance to abiotic stress. The chemical constituent of seaweed extracts includes the complex polysaccharide, fatty acids, vitamins, phytohormones and mineralnutrients. They have great profiency in improving soil physical and chemical properties. Macroalgae are characterized by producing large array of biologically active biocidal substances against plant infecting pathogens. Bioactive compound like fatty acids in particular polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs), proteins (amino acid), biflavonoids, sulfated polysaccharides, carotenoid polyphenols and carbohydrate are considered to have the bactericidal, antiviral and fungicidal effects against some plant-infecting pathogens. These macroalgae can be generally considered as promising multifunctional bio inoculants and ecofriendly environmental tools in recent trends of organic farming.