Biopesticides from algae and their potential for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection
Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.
Review Article
Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy, 2022, 06(02), 029-034.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjbp.2022.6.2.0080
Publication history:
Received on 13 October 2022; revised on 20 November 2022; accepted on 22 November 2022
Abstract:
Agricultural crops have become more resistant to synthetic pesticides and pressure mounts regarding their effect on our health and the environment. When these compounds leach into the ground waters, they become direct sources of human health hazards. Also, agricultural runoffs can cause widespread damage to flora fauna and in general affect the food chain in an ecosystem. To combat these deleterious effects, the race is on to bring biopesticides to market that are safe, effective at scale, affordable and can ensure future food security. In this present scenario there is an urgent need to look for alternate sources of similar compounds to replace synthetic pesticides that are sustainable, ecofriendly, and easily available to be mass produced. In this effort microalgae may play a very significant role as they have the capacity to produce a wide array of bioactive compounds with pesticidal properties. As a part of their daily metabolic activities through different physiological pathways they are known to produce and release compounds with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal, pesticidal, insecticidal properties. Microalgae, especially the cyanobacteria have very fast growth rates and are potent sources of raw material for the generation of these compounds therefore considered significant while considering biopesticides to replace synthetic ones. This review explores the use of microalgae driven release of biochemicals and secondary metabolites produced by microalgae, or microalgal biomass, that can serve as future promising biopesticides to replace the agrochemicals used these days in agriculture.
Keywords:
Algae; Cyanobacteria; Secondary metabolites; Biomass; Biopesticide; Ecofriendly; Anti-Bacterial; Anti-fungal; Anti-viral
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Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0