Research Projects

The modern agriculture system prioritizes environmentally friendly methods to promote plant growth and increase crop productivity. However, the widespread use of chemical fertilizers has led to increased pollution, socioeconomic and environmental consequences, and decreased potential in the agriculture sector. Chemical fertilizers contain toxic substances, such as inorganic pollutants and heavy metals, which can accumulate hazardous contaminants in soil, degrading the soil's ecological environment. Natural bio-stimulants and biofertilizers have been developed to combat the overuse of chemical fertilizers. Marine algae, particularly brown seaweeds, are rich renewable resources in India, with potential applications in crop, medicinal, and aromatic plant research. The proposed research aims to isolate and characterize fucoidan compounds from these seaweed species to determine their bio-stimulant activity on seed germination, seedling growth, callus induction, shoot tip culture, organogenesis, and plantlet regeneration. Further investigation could be beneficial for organic-based agricultural practices. The hypothesis can help characterize bio-stimulants and growth hormone-like activity from brown seaweeds, which could be used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers for eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture.