The project “Marine macroalgae glycans for crop protection. AlglyCrop” aims to explore how compounds from seaweed can enhance plant defense while promoting the sustainable use of marine resources.

The research focused on analyzing the cell wall composition of different species of marine macroalgae to better understand their diversity and identify valuable polysaccharides, leading to the development of a standardized method for studying algal cell walls. These glycans were evaluated for their ability to stimulate plant immunity, showing that specific algal polysaccharide fractions can activate defense responses in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and increase resistance to pathogens. In addition, the project explored the reuse of industrial seaweed residues generated during hydrocolloid extraction, developing eco-efficient water-based processes to obtain bioactive oligosaccharides with plant biostimulant activity.
Overall, the project contributes new scientific knowledge and sustainable strategies to transform marine algae and their residues into high-value products for greener and more resilient agriculture. 🌱🌊