New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Sustainable Agriculture: Revitalization through Organic Products
2022, Pages 217-238
New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Chapter 11 - Role of seaweeds in plant growth promotion and disease management

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85579-2.00007-1Get rights and content

Abstract

Algae are eukaryotic organisms ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms and make a vast and diversified cluster of simple plant like organisms. Entirely complex and largest (multicellular) macroscopic algal clusters found in sea are known as seaweeds or macroalgae. Seaweeds are used in agriculture for ages and well acknowledged for their plant growth enhancing properties. Extracts of seaweed are rich in phytohormones such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene as well as amino acids, vitamins, betains, polyamines, carrageenans, polysaccharides and sterols which play significant role as a biostimulant, elicitor for abiotic stress and increase the productivity of plants. Besides being stimulant for growth, seaweed saps are known for their antimicrobial potency and ability to provide protection to plants against their natural invaders. In general, extracts of seaweed can induce changes in the physiological/biochemical process associated with plant nutrient uptake and growth in agriculture.

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