Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
10:18
Valorization of the Red Seaweed Gracilaria gracilis Through a Biorefinery Approach
Published on: November 21, 2023
Anti-phytopathogenic activities of macro-algae extracts
Edra Jiménez1, Fernando Dorta1, Cristian Medina2
1Biotechnology Center "D. Alkalay L.", Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Avda. España 1680, Valparaiso, Chile.
Marine Drugs
|June 16, 2011
Summary
Marine macro-algae extracts show potential for controlling plant pathogens. Specific extracts inhibited bacteria, fungi, and viruses, reducing plant disease severity in laboratory and field studies.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Plant pathology
- Natural product chemistry
Background:
- Plant diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses lead to significant agricultural losses.
- Conventional chemical treatments pose environmental risks and can lead to pathogen resistance.
- Marine macro-algae are a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of Chilean marine macro-algae extracts for controlling plant pathogens.
- To evaluate the efficacy of aqueous and ethanolic extracts against various plant pathogens in vitro and in vivo.
- To identify specific algae and extract types with significant pathogen-inhibiting properties.
Main Methods:
- Collection of nine Chilean marine macro-algae species across different seasons.
- Preparation of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from collected algae.
- In vitro testing of extracts against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
- In vivo assessment of extract efficacy in reducing plant disease severity on foliar tissues.
Main Results:
- Organic extracts from Lessonia trabeculata inhibited bacterial growth and reduced necrotic lesions on tomato leaves infected with Botrytis cinerea.
- Aqueous and ethanolic extracts from Gracillaria chilensis inhibited Phytophthora cinnamomi growth in a dose- and season-dependent manner.
- Aqueous and ethanolic extracts from Durvillaea antarctica reduced tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) damage in tobacco leaves, with aqueous extracts being more effective and season-independent.
Conclusions:
- Marine macro-algae possess compounds with diverse chemical properties capable of controlling specific plant pathogens.
- These findings highlight the potential of utilizing macro-algal extracts as a sustainable strategy for plant disease management.
- Further research into the isolation and characterization of these bioactive compounds is warranted for developing novel bio-pesticides.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Red Algae
Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
01:25Biofuels
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
01:21Green Algae
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
01:19Other Algae
The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...