The global agricultural sector faces increasing challenges in balancing productivity with environmental sustainability. Microalgae-based biofertilizers offer a promising solution by leveraging their nutrient-rich profiles, eco-friendly production, and capacity to enhance soil health and crop performance. This review highlights the diverse mechanisms by which microalgae enhance nutrient cycling, promote plant growth, and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers. By synthesizing key findings on the effectiveness of various microalgal species, their production techniques, and field applications, this study emphasizes their potential to revolutionize agricultural practices while mitigating environmental impacts. Addressing challenges in scalability and application standardization will be pivotal for unlocking the full potential of microalgae-based biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture.
The accumulation of reactive oxygen species induces oxidative stress, contributing to cellular damage, aging, and the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Natural antioxidants derived from plants have gained increasing attention as safer alternatives to synthetic compounds. In this study, the antioxidant potential of 57 samples from three Agastache species (A. rugosa, A. foeniculum, and A. urticifolia) were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content assays. Apigenin, chlorogenic acid, and rosmarinic acid concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Significant inter- and intra-species variations were observed, with A. urticifolia showing the highest average antioxidant activity. The relative antioxidant capacity index was used to integrate multiple assay results. Positive correlations between TPC and radical scavenging activity confirmed the contribution of phenolic compounds. These findings highlight the potential of Agastache species as natural antioxidant resources for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.
The recent development of genome editing technologies using CRISPR/Cas9 has marked a new era in precise genome editing. This study reports on genome editing using seven single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) to target different positions in the OsGTL1 promoter in rice (Oryza sativa L.). This research focused on identifying CRISPR-edited plants before evaluating the effects of OsGTL1 modification in rice progeny. We successfully developed gene-edited lines that have different types of mutations. Moreover, our study detected at least 35% of genetic chimerism in the first generations of the edited lines. This chimerism resulted in a mosaic of genotypes within an individual plant, suggesting multiple CRISPR-Cas9 events targeting the target region. We successfully identified transgene-free lines in later generations. Various modifications occurred in the targeted region, including large and small deletions, single-base insertions and deletions, and inversions. This study highlights the complex challenges and opportunities of applying CRISPR/Cas9 to improve rice traits, emphasizing the importance of detailed characterization of edited lines to fully understand a gene's function and its pleiotropic effects.
