Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
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Authors
Laurie C. Hofmann Janina Brakel Inka Bartsch Gabriel Montecinos Arismendi Ricardo Bermejo Manuela I Parentef Emeline Creis Olivier De Clerck Bertrand Jacquemin Jessica Knoop Maike Lorenz Levi Pompermayer Machado Neusa Martinsk Sotiris Orfanidis Ian Probert Cecilia Rad-Menéndez Michael Ross Ralf Rautenberger Jessica Schiller Ester A. Serrao Sophie Steinhagen Ronan Sulpice Myriam Valero Thomas WichardAbstract
Biobanking (also known as germplasm banking) of genetic material is a well-established concept for preserving plant genetic diversity and also contributes to food security, conservation and restoration. Macroalgae currently represent a very small percentage of the strains in publicly accessible European germplasm banks, despite the increasing recognition of their contribution to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There is no strategic coordination of existing macroalgal strains, which could have severe ecological and economic implications as species and their genetic diversity disappear rapidly due to local and global environmental stressors. In this opinion paper, we stress the importance of a coordinated European effort for preserving macroalgal genetic diversity and suggest the development of a three-pillared system to safeguard European macroalgal genetic material consisting of (1) a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources (EBMGR) to provide supervision, support and coordination, (2) a network of germplasm banks consisting of currently existing and newly established infrastructures and (3) an interoperable databank integrating existing databanks. While it will be the task of the EBMGR to identify and coordinate priorities, we offer initial recommendations for preserving macroalgal genetic material, discuss the risks of inaction, and highlight the challenges that must be overcome. Highlights • A coordinated European effort is crucial to preserve macroalgal genetic diversity, addressing rapid species and genetic loss due to environmental stressors. • The initiative should include a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources for oversight, a network of existing and new germplasm banks and an interoperable databank integrating current resources. • The effort supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Authors
Alexander Oliver Jüterbock Hin Hoarau Heemstra Karin Andrea Wigger Bernardo Duarte Christian Guido Bruckner Annelise Chapman Delin Duan Aschwin Engelen Clement Gauci Griffin Goldstein Hill Zi-Min Hu Prabhat Khanal Ananya Khatei Amy Leigh Mackintosh Heidi Meland Ricardo Melo Anne Margrete Leiros Nilsen Leonore Olsen Ralf Rautenberger Henning Reiss Jie ZhangAbstract
How to build a sustainable seaweed industry is important in Europe’s quest to produce 8 million tons of seaweed by 2030. Based on interviews with industry representatives and an expert-workshop, we developed an interdisciplinary roadmap that addresses sustainable development holistically. We argue that sustainable practices must leverage synergies with existing industries (e.g. IMTA systems, offshore wind farms), as the industry develops beyond experimental cultivation towards economic viability.
Authors
Jan Phillipp Geißel Noé Espinosa-Novo Luis Giménez Nicole Aberle Gro Ingleid van der Meeren Ralf Rautenberger Steffen Harzsch Gabriela TorresAbstract
Aim: This study sets out to understand the variability in larval traits of dispersive life stages of a famous invader, the European shore crab Carcinus maenas, in its native distribution range. Location: North East Atlantic coast from the Norwegian Arctic to the southern European distribution limit of C. maenas in Southern Spain. Taxon: European shore crab Carcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda). Methods: We quantified latitudinal patterns in larval body mass, elemental composition (C and N content), and thermal tolerance of the first larval stage. We collected crabs from four populations spanning 25° of latitude (Vigo in Northern Spain; Bergen, Trondheim, and Bodø in Norway) and reanalysed published and unpublished data of body mass and elemental composition of additional populations from Germany, Wales, France, and Southern Spain. Furthermore, we used two laboratory experiments to test the thermal tolerance limits of the first larval stage from Vigo and the Norwegian populations. In the first experiment, we reared larvae from hatching to Zoea II at seven temperatures (9°C–27°C) and from hatching to LT50 at 6°C. In the second experiment, we exposed freshly hatched larvae acutely to increasing or decreasing temperatures (up to 40°C and down to 3°C). Results: Across the entire European range, we found a substantial increase in dry mass and carbon and nitrogen content of freshly hatched larvae with latitude. Norwegian populations exhibited higher survival at 9°C than the Vigo population. Furthermore, LT50 at 6°C increased from South to North. All populations showed high survival in the range 12°C–24°C but low survival at 27°C.
Abstract
Eucheumatoid seaweed farmers face a confluence of challenges emanating from presumed nutrient deficiency due to over-cropping, leading to low yields and frequent ice-ice disease outbreaks. Despite limited data on systemic nutrient limitations, some farmers clandestinely apply commercial inorganic fertilizers to accelerate growth and harvest premature crops after half of the prescribed 45-day cultivation period, sparking controversy. Unlike terrestrial agriculture, the use of inorganic fertilizers in eucheumatoid seaweed farming (ESF) is contentious. This stems from the haphazard use of the term “organic” to classify sea-grown crops without using synthetic fertilizers. However, when anthropogenic inorganic nutrient pollution fertilizes coastal seas, this effectively disqualifies these crops from the “organic” produce classification. This paper critically explores the use of artificial nutrient enrichment in ESF, assessing its impact on the crop's growth, ice-ice disease mitigation, carrageenan quality, and the marine environment. While controlled fundamental studies have shown that nutrient enrichment can significantly increase growth and potentially reduce disease occurrence, its inconsistent positive and negative effects on carrageenan yield and quality require further investigation with emphasis on organismal nutrient physiology and metabolism. Inorganic nutrient enrichment could also potentially alter the microbiome of eucheumatoid seaweeds. Whether inorganic nutrient enrichment in ESF will be sanctioned by the local and global regulators and policy makers, or not, increased knowledge is crucial for establishing basic science in order to rationally discuss challenges contributing to the decreasing production of quality raw, dried, eucheumatoid seaweed biomass for carrageenan processing, without compromising environmental and social responsibilities. Currently, the routine use of inorganic fertilizers in ESF is not authorized and remains a very sensitive issue, especially among marginalized subsistence seaweed farmers. In conclusion, inorganic nutrient enrichment in ESF presents a double-edged sword: whilst it can boost growth and potentially combat disease, its practice raises concerns on carrageenan yield and quality, and environmental pollution, as well as regulatory organic codes, necessitating further research for responsible implementation, when sanctioned. The bottom line is that when prescribed by regulators, the raw dried seaweed (RDS) and the subsequent products (both semi-refined and refined carrageenans) cannot be certified as “organic” when the crop is cultivated using inorganic fertilizers.
2024
Abstract
Sustainable source-based hydrogels are now paid much importance for managing water pollution due to their distinctive chemical and physical properties like hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, viscoelasticity, superabsorbancy, softness, fluffiness, and biodegradability. Alginate-based hydrogels can incorporate much water due to their hydrophilic nature.Water pollution often changes groundwater, resulting in the inability to use it. Alginate-based gels remove pollutants through adsorption/desorption, transport, and other conventional techniques. Alginatebased hydrogels can incorporate much water due to their hydrophilic nature. Their composites have been demonstrated to control different water pollutants like inorganic, organic, and pathogenic microbes from various water streams in unique structural forms like a flat membrane, hollow fibber, microspheres, gels, foams, nanofibers, Calcium and sodium alginate-based hydrogel along with other materials like activated charcoal, zeolite, bentonite, graphene, biochars and composites have been proved to be effective blend in managing heavy metal pollutants.This review summarizes the results obtained from the sustainable removal of contaminants from water through the alginate-based hydrogel and the challenges associated with it for practical application in the future.
Abstract
The commercial farming of Kappaphycus alvarezii in Indian waters has provided diversifying livelihood to the low-income artisanal fishermen for last 15 years. The sector has got commercial setback due to mass mortality of germplasm during 2013 – 2014. But considering its potential to provide inclusive economic growth in coastal rural settings, the government has renewed its interest in this activity. At the cusp of the strategic expansion of the seaweed sector understanding biosecurity risks, strategies and enforcement of framework is pivotal in reducing the impact of disease outbreaks, epiphytic infestations and pest attacks. The key category aspects include identification of the risks, evaluate the national health management for seaweed aquaculture, and providing potential biosecurity strategy for expanding commercial farming operations. Additionally we also enlisted the biosecurity strategy from other eucheumatoid-producing countries and nations involved in seaweed aquaculture for comparison. In-spite of advancements in science and technology, particularly in seaweed application-based solutions, health management and seaweed aquaculture biosecurity, still remain in their infancy in India. The analysis revealed that there is a complete absence of a national database of diseases, epiphytes, and grazers outbreak. Further limited clarity on a legal administrative procedures for the import of seaweed germplasm for commercial exploitation and its subsequent quarantine is a critical biosecurity risk. There is an urgent need to invest considerably in research and development related to the biosecurity of seaweeds. The rapid internet based technological development could be effectively utilised in disease reporting as well as developing farmer centric syndromic surveillance. The strengthening of regulatory frameworks and policy should be given the highest priority, as application of biosecurity has indirect effects in domains such as products development, food security, agriculture productivity, economic growth and potential regulatory ecosystem services.
Abstract
Seaweed extracts are proven to be potent biostimulants due to the presence of wide range of nutrients including mineral like potassium and other macro-micronutrients, plant growth hormones, amino acids, vitamins, glycine betaines and quaternary ammonium compounds in them. In the present study, potassium-rich powders were obtained from some commercially important tropical red seaweeds viz. Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracilaria salicornia, G. edulis, G. firma and G. heteroclada and Eucheuma spinosum and checked for their biostimulant effect through green gram seedling bioassay study on in vitro using WinRhizo software, and we found that extracts of all species increased the root development at significant level (p < 0.05) as compared to standard nutrient medium. G. salicornia of Indian origin which is naturally available on a commercial level (>1000 t dry per year) was taken for further studies and manufactured 3 variants of potassium-rich biostimulants, viz. concentrated seaweed extract (CSE), potassium-rich water-soluble powder (PSP) and seaweed fortified granule (SFG), and tested their biostimulant activity on cassava root at farmer’s field and found to increase the tuber yield to 17.40%, 20.09% and 22.19%, respectively, with high starch content, less incidence of cassava brown streak virus disease (CBSD) and increased nutrient use efficiency over control plants. Based on the results of present study, potassium-rich biostimulant obtained from G. salicornia can be applied to cassava for yield and quality improvement.
Authors
D. Shanthana Lakshmi Lakshmipriya Ravindran P. J. Maida Mary G. Rathika M.S. Sreekala Shanmugam MunisamyAbstract
Shrimp and crab shells are the most promising and viable source of raw material for the manufacturing of chitin and its derivatives. In-depth understanding of the biological properties of chitin and scientific advancements in the field of nanotechnology have enabled the development of high-performance chitin nanomaterials. Nanoscale chitin is of great economic value as a functional and reinforcement material for a wide range of applications including water purification. The use of nano-chitin to produce (bio) nanocomposites offers a good opportunity to prepare membrane materials with enhanced functional and structural properties. Chitosan-based membranes are found to be effective in water purification for the removal of pollutants like organic wastes, heavy metals, antibiotics, pathogenic microbes and acid waste. These membranes are environmentally friendly and can be used as a method to reduce humic acid waste from the aquatic environment. This review focuses on the preparation, characterization and chemical modification of nano chitin membrane and its application for water purification and water treatment.