Potential of Seaweed Extract on Growth, Physiological, Cytological and Biochemical Parameters of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seedlings

Marwa M Hamouda,Khalil M Saad-Allah,Dina Gad

doi:10.1007/s42729-022-00774-3

Marwa M Hamouda, Khalil M Saad-Allah + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-00774-3

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Abstract

Synthetic fertilizers are widely employed in agriculture relative to biofertilizers. Long-term use affects soil fertility, plant vigor, human and livestock health, and the soil microbial community. Seaweeds were employed as biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture to overcome this issue and boost the agricultural productivity. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of wheat seeds priming with the aqueous extracts of Ulva linza or Corallina officinalis seaweeds at various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30%). Wheat grains were primed with seaweed extracts and grown in petri dishes, and the germination rate, growth attributes, physiological parameters, cytological traits, and molecular analyses were evaluated. The physico-chemical characterization revealed that U. linza possessed higher levels of ash, soluble proteins, and sugars, as well as essential macronutrients and amino acids, than C. officinalis. Seedling growth parameters, physiological characteristics, and mitotic index all showed a substantial increase in low concentrations of both extracts when compared to the control. Higher concentrations, on the other hand, exhibited an inhibitory effect as well as certain chromosomal abnormalities. In the treated seedlings, new proteins were expressed, which could be owing to the activity of bioactive components in the extracts. As compared to untreated seedlings, PCR-RAPD analysis utilizing five markers revealed that both seaweed extracts triggered low and high molecular weight DNA fragments, as well as fragments specific to each extract. Seaweed extracts could be employed as an environmentally friendly and soil-safe alternative to typical chemical fertilizers.

Highlights

The use of conventional chemical fertilizers has risen substantially as a result of the world’s rapidly growing population and ever-increasing food demand
The amount of micronutrients represented in Na, Fe, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb were higher in U. linza (47.49, 3.86, 0.56, 0.026, 0.56, and 0.59 mg L −1, respectively) than in C. officinalis (36.21, 2.75, 0.27, 0.012, 0.32, and 0.39 mg L−1 respectively)
The findings of this study established that seed priming with Ulva linza or Corallina officinalis seaweeds could be employed as bio-fertilizers supporting wheat growth

Summary

Introduction

The use of conventional chemical fertilizers has risen substantially as a result of the world’s rapidly growing population and ever-increasing food demand. The use of these chemical fertilizers and their effects, on the environment, has become a major concern (Eissa et al 2017). Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El‐Koum, Egypt fertilizers, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals (Bixler and Porse 2011). Due to their commercial value and prospective applications, seaweeds are employed as fodder, human food, cosmetics, biorefineries, and biofertilizers (PeñaRodríguez et al 2011). More than 15 million tons of seaweeds are produced, with a significant amount of that being used as biofertilizers in agricultural and horticultural sectors (Anisimov et al 2013)

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