Title:	Impact of Kappaphycus alvarezii biostimulant on growth, biochemistry, essential oil, and rhizosphere of basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants.
Authors:	NUNES, A. MINELLO, L. V. P. OLIVEIRA, E. R. SCHNEIDER, A. R. DUTRA, F. de S. GUIZOLFI, T. SANTOS, L. R. B. GELLI, V. C. GRANADA, C. E. SPEROTTO, R. A. MOURA, S. MARASCHIN, M. LIMA, G. P. P.
Affiliation:	ALINE NUNES, UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA; LUANA VANESSA PERETTI MINELLO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PELOTAS; EVA REGINA OLIVEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; ALEX RICARDO SCHNEIDER, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; FELIPE DE SOUZA DUTRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; TAINARA GUIZOLFI, UNIVERSIDADE DE CAXIAS DO SUL; LOHAN RODRIGUES BRANDÃO SANTOS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; VALÉRIA CRESS GELLI, SECRETARIA DE AGRICULTURA E ABASTECIMENTO DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO; CAMILLE EICHELBERGER GRANADA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL; RAUL ANTONIO SPEROTTO, CNPMS; SIDNEI MOURA, UNIVERSIDADE DE CAXIAS DO SUL; MARCELO MARASCHIN, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA; GIUSEPPINA PACE PEREIRA LIMA, UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	Plants, v. 15, n. 11, 1749, 2026.
Description:	Seaweed-derived biostimulants are a promising strategy for improving crop performance in sustainable agriculture. In this context, this study evaluated the effects of foliar application of Kappaphycus alvarezii extracts, obtained from two Brazilian regions (São Paulo: Kal-SP and Santa Catarina: Kal-SC), at different concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) on the growth, biochemical profile, essential oil yield, and rhizosphere microbiome of Ocimum basilicum under field conditions. Morphological analysis indicated that the 5% and 7% concentrations increased plant height, biomass, root development, and inflorescence production, with biomass gains of up to 51% and essential oil production increases of up to 142% compared to the control. Biochemical responses varied by extract origin, with Kal-SC promoting greater increases in photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant activity, and carbon-related metabolites, whereas Kal-SP induced only minor metabolic changes. The algal biostimulant modulated essential oil yield and composition, promoting treatment-dependent shifts in major terpenoid compounds. Microbiome analysis showed no significant changes in alpha diversity, but significant shifts in beta diversity and functional groups, such as Bacillaceae, indicating rhizosphere reorganization. Overall, the effectiveness of K. alvarezii-based biostimulants depends on concentration and biomass source, highlighting their potential as sustainable agricultural bioproducts and the importance of standardized extraction for consistent outcomes.
Thesagro:	Biofertilizante Rizosfera Alga Marinha Musgo
NAL Thesaurus:	Rhodophyta Biofertilizers
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111749
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPMS)