A study has shown that the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae activates and enhances the defence mechanisms of grape vines, making it feasible to eliminate invasive algae while reinforcing vineyards.
While more research is needed to corroborate what has been observed in field testing, the SEAWINES project – led by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA) – is optimistic about the future of the seaweed extract from Rugulopteryx okamurae to reduce or replace the most common chemical treatments in viticulture (the cultivation and harvesting of grapes).
The European Commission has set itself the target of a 50 percent reduction in pesticides used in agriculture by 2030. These products are also known to be particularly abundant in viticulture given the frequency of infections by organisms as diverse as downy mildew and powdery mildew, both of which are caused by fungi. With the aim of “seeking a strategic, ecological alternative to combat these two fungi, a year ago we launched the SEAWINES project,” said Iratxe Zarraonaindia, research associate at UPV/EHU, in a press release.
In the SEAWINES project, the biostimulant and fungicidal effects of two algae are being explored: Ulva ohnoiand the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae, which originates from Asia and is widespread along the Mediterranean coast.
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