ABSTRACT
The world history of seaweed use is mainly related to their direct harvest from wild stocks or their cultivation to obtain biomass. Marine macroalgae have been used in human food and extraction of carrageenans and agar, which together correspond to 90% of the market of macroalgae derivatives. Assays for investigation of seaweed compounds applied to the control of phytopathogenic fungi or plant insects need multiple and interdisciplinary approaches. In vivo protective effect of seaweed extracts against pathogens is observed when they are applied before challenge inoculation. Despite the great potential of marine macroalgae, there are no commercial seaweed-based products for use in agriculture for the protection of plants against insects, mites or other phytophagous organisms. The evolution of knowledge related to seaweed applied to control plant pathogens and crop pest’s needs to integrate these aspects and redefine the processes of research and development to create products and practices.
