Biostimulants are extracts of seaweeds, plants or microorganisms that stimulate growth or improve nutrient uptake without being fertilizers or pesticides. We characterize extracts such as those of the brown seaweed Cystoseira barbata and of willow, and test their effects on seedling growth, yield, quality and stress tolerance in wheat, tomato, maize and other crops. Seeds enriched with micronutrients and seed priming treatments belong to the same line of work.
The microbial side covers the organisms that live with roots. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria and root endophytes such as Serendipita indica (formerly Piriformospora indica) can improve the uptake of phosphorus, zinc and other nutrients and make plants more tolerant of stress. In projects with TAGEM and TÜBİTAK we develop mycorrhiza and bacteria consortia and the solid and liquid formulations needed to turn them into microbial fertilizers.
What we have found
Extracts of Cystoseira barbata, a brown seaweed collected from the Turkish coast, increased the growth, yield, quality and nutraceutical value of soil-grown tomato, and extracts prepared in different ways stimulated wheat seedling growth to different degrees, which shows that the extraction method shapes the biostimulant effect. Extracts of willow (Salix babylonica) improved the salinity tolerance of maize grown in soilless culture. With the root endophyte Serendipita indica we studied how colonization changes the response of wheat to boron toxicity. The publications listed below carry the details.
Projects in this area
All projectsDuckweed as a functional food and a biostimulant for sustainable food and circular agriculture
Started in 2026 with YÖK ADEP support, the project looks at a fast-growing aquatic plant both as a food source and as a biostimulant for crops.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and bacteria consortia from native isolates: solid and liquid formulations and their efficacy as microbial fertilizers
Run together with TAGEM: consortia built from local isolates, turned into solid and liquid formulations and tested on wheat across different soils.
A biofertilizer based on rice straw and lignocellulolytic bacteria to improve soil health and yield in rice production
Turning rice straw and lignocellulolytic bacteria into a biofertilizer for healthier paddy soils and higher rice yields.
Biotechnological fertilizers and biostimulants for sustainable agriculture
A TÜBİTAK 2244 Industry PhD Programme project with GÜBRETAŞ that supports doctoral students working on biotechnological fertilizers and biostimulants.
Biostimulant effects of Cystoseira barbata extracts on wheat
Extracts of the brown seaweed Cystoseira barbata as biostimulants for wheat growth and stress tolerance.
Physiological effects of Piriformospora indica on boron toxicity in wheat
Wheat with and without the fungus, compared at rising boron levels to measure what the symbiosis actually protects.