Pathogen-dependent biocontrol activity of Chlorella sorokoniana aqueous extracts against fungal and oomycete plant pathogens
TL;DR
The contrasting responses among pathosystems suggest that C. sorokoniana aqueous extracts act through different mechanisms depending on the pathogen and the crop, combining direct antifungal activity against M. oryzae with plant-associated protective effects against soil-borne pathogens.
Abstract
Fungal and oomycete plant pathogens are major drivers of yield losses worldwide and are spurring the search for sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Algae, in general, and microalgae, in particular, represent a promising source of bioactive compounds for crop protection. Despite this, their efficacy across different host–pathogen systems remains poorly characterised. This study evaluated the biocontrol potential of the aqueous extract of Chlorella sorokoniana against three economically important phytopathogens using complementary in vitro, ex vivo, and in planta assays. The strongest activity was observed against Magnaporthe oryzae, with the extract reducing fungal growth by approximately 70% in vitro, inhibiting appressorium formation by 55%, suppressing lesion development on detached rice leaves by more than 75%, and reducing rice blast severity by 64.5% as a preventive foliar treatment. In contrast, the extract showed little or no direct in vitro antifungal activity against Pythium ultimum and Rhizoctonia solani, yet it significantly reduced disease severity in planta by 13-37% and 48–55%, respectively. The contrasting responses among pathosystems suggest that C. sorokoniana aqueous extracts act through different mechanisms depending on the pathogen and the crop, combining direct antifungal activity against M. oryzae with plant-associated protective effects against soil-borne pathogens. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating candidate biocontrol products using complementary in vitro and in planta approaches, as laboratory antimicrobial assays alone may substantially underestimate their agricultural potential. The broad-spectrum protection achieved with an unrefined aqueous extract further supports C. sorokoniana as a promising source of sustainable crop protection products and provides a strong foundation for future mechanistic studies, formulation development, and field validation.