Abstract
Introduction Agricultural producers worldwide face increasing pressure to ensure food security while contending with the adverse effects of climate change and unsustainable farming practices. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been applied in agriculture due to their versatile properties as slow-release and efficient carriers, while seaweed extracts are widely used as plant biostimulants. However, their integrated use as nanostructured composites for enhancing seed germination and seedling growth remains largely unexplored. Methods In this study, we addressed this gap by synthesizing composites that combine cationic LDH nanosheets with anionic compounds present in alkaline extracts of the brown seaweed Sargassum liebmannii (LDH-Sargassum) and the green seaweed Ulva ohnoi (LDH-Ulva). The physicochemical properties of the LDH-seaweed composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The biological efficacy of the composites was evaluated through seed germination and early seedling development assays in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Rio Grande) and root induction assays in mung bean ( Vigna radiata L.) cuttings. Results Physicochemical analyses confirmed that approximately 12% of the composite mass corresponded to seaweed-derived molecules adsorbed onto the LDH surface. Both LDH-Sargassum and LDH-Ulva significantly improved germination and seedling growth at lower concentrations (1.57, 3.14, and 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹), while higher doses (12.56–50.25 mg·mL⁻¹) produced effects that were either comparable to those of the control or slightly better. Notably, both composites enhanced root architecture in mung bean cuttings by increasing root number, length, and dry weight. These results highlight the potential of LDH-seaweed composites as effective biostimulants, particularly in promoting early-stage root development by improving root branching, size, and biomass. Importantly, LDH-Sargassum at 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹ emerged as a promising natural alternative to synthetic root-promoting agents. Discussion This study demonstrates, for the first time, the feasibility of LDH-seaweed composites as next-generation nanostructured phycobiostimulants, providing insights into their plant interactions and identifying optimal application dosages. Overall, these findings provide a foundation for implementing LDH-seaweed composites as a sustainable strategy to reduce agrochemical inputs and advance towards food security through bio-based nanotechnologies.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
About 12% of composite mass was adsorbed seaweed-derived molecules.
- Outcome
- composite mass corresponded to seaweed-derived molecules adsorbed onto the LDH surfacee0
- Value
- 12%e0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“approximately 12% of the composite mass corresponded to seaweed-derived molecules adsorbed onto the LDH surface”
Claim · model-written summary
Low-dose LDH-Sargassum significantly improved tomato germination and seedling growth.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume1 - Material
- cv. Rio Grandee1
- Treatment
- LDH-Sargassume0
- Outcome
- germination and seedling growthe0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Value
- 1.57, 3.14, and 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both LDH-Sargassum and LDH-Ulva significantly improved germination and seedling growth at lower concentrations (1.57, 3.14, and 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹)”
e1“seed germination and early seedling development assays in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Rio Grande)”
Claim · model-written summary
Low-dose LDH-Ulva significantly improved tomato germination and seedling growth.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Material
- cv. Rio Grandee1
- Treatment
- LDH-Ulvae0
- Outcome
- germination and seedling growthe0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Value
- 1.57, 3.14, and 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both LDH-Sargassum and LDH-Ulva significantly improved germination and seedling growth at lower concentrations (1.57, 3.14, and 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹)”
e1“seed germination and early seedling development assays in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Rio Grande)”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher composite doses were comparable to or slightly better than control for germination and growth.
- Treatment
- higher doses (12.56–50.25 mg·mL⁻¹)e0
- Outcome
- effectse0
- Direction
- comparable to those of the control or slightly bettere0
- Comparator
- controle0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“higher doses (12.56–50.25 mg·mL⁻¹) produced effects that were either comparable to those of the control or slightly better”
Claim · model-written summary
LDH-Sargassum increased root number, length, and dry weight in mung bean cuttings.
- Taxon
- mung bean
.jpg?width=60)
Vigna radiatae0 - Organ / stage
- cuttingse0
- Treatment
- LDH-Sargassume1
- Outcome
- root number, length, and dry weighte0
- Direction
- increasinge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“both composites enhanced root architecture in mung bean cuttings by increasing root number, length, and dry weight”
e1“LDH-Sargassum and LDH-Ulva”
Claim · model-written summary
LDH-Ulva increased root number, length, and dry weight in mung bean cuttings.
- Taxon
- mung beanVigna radiatae0
- Organ / stage
- cuttingse0
- Treatment
- LDH-Ulvae1
- Outcome
- root number, length, and dry weighte0
- Direction
- increasinge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“both composites enhanced root architecture in mung bean cuttings by increasing root number, length, and dry weight”
e1“LDH-Sargassum and LDH-Ulva”
Claim · model-written summary
LDH-Sargassum at 6.28 mg per mL was recommended as a natural alternative to synthetic root-promoting agents.
- Treatment
- LDH-Sargassum at 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹e0
- Outcome
- promising natural alternative to synthetic root-promoting agentse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“LDH-Sargassum at 6.28 mg·mL⁻¹ emerged as a promising natural alternative to synthetic root-promoting agents”
The same questions in other papers
Ulva · growth · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
1 in the opposite direction
- no effect
Sargassum · growth · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
2 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction
- negative
- positive
- positive
Sargassum · growth · Vigna radiata (mung bean)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.