Eco-friendly alternatives to seed chemical coating: agro-industrial byproducts as seed treatments with long-term effects on growth and reproduction

Abstract

Synthetic chemical seed treatments, while effective, often raise significant environmental and health concerns. These concerns stem from the use of hazardous chemicals such as fungicides and insecticides that, besides posing risks to workers, have broader environmental impacts. These hazardous chemicals can leach into the soil and water systems, disrupting ecosystems, harming beneficial organisms, and entering the food chain. Agro-industrial byproducts/wastes (AIBWs) represent an abundant, environmentally friendly resource with potential for seed treatments. We focused on AIBWs that are produced in enormous amounts and do not pose potential hazards since they are commonly used to feed animals as well as food additives for humans, including wheat bran (WB), wine pomace (WP), and brewer’s spent grain (BSG). We investigated the effects of imbibing wheat seeds in water-soluble extracts of AIBWs or coating seeds with a biopolymer supplemented with AIBW substances on wheat growth and reproduction. As controls, we used water-soaked (WS) and non-soaked (NS) seeds, as well as chemically Celest Top-coated seeds. Petri dish assays showed that seeds imbibed in AIBW extracts exhibited enhanced post-germination growth as compared to NS seeds. Thus, while 81% of NS seedlings produced up to 3 seminal roots (SRs), 84% of WB and 64% of Celest Top seedlings produced 4 and 5 SRs. Net-house experiments revealed that Celest Top and AIBW extracts had a positive effect on reproduction as compared to NS, displaying 17.4%, 14.5%, 30.3%, and 34.3% increases in grain weight per spike in Celest Top, WB, GP, and WP, respectively. Metabolic analysis of seeds derived from treated plants revealed variation in metabolite profiles with a notable increase in the amino acid tryptophan. We utilized the nature-sourced polysaccharide carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to coat seeds with AIBW substances derived from GP, referred to as CMC-GP. The results indicated that CMC-GP and Celest Top enhanced root growth, displaying 2- and 1.5-fold increases in fresh and dry weight, respectively, as compared to NS and CMC-coated seeds. Thus, AIBWs appear to provide cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives to the hazardous chemical seed coatings, whether applied via imbibition or coating, while aiding in waste valorization within the circular economy.

Keywords

Agro-industrial byproducts and wastes / Wheat bran / Wine pomace / Brewer’s spent grain / Garlic peels / Seed coating / Circular economy / Wheat growth and reproduction / Sustainable agriculture.

References

[1] Apprich S, Tirpanalan Ö, Hell J, Reisinger M, Böhmdorfer S, Siebenhandl-Ehn S, Novalin S, Kneife W. Wheat bran-based biorefinery 2: valorization of products LWT. Food Sci Technol, 2014, 56: 222-231

[2] Aradwad P, Raut S, Abdelfattah A, Rauh C, Sturm B. Brewer’s spent grain: unveiling innovative applications in the food and packaging industry. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, 2025, 24: e70150

[3] Arora R. Mechanism of freeze-thaw injury and recovery: a cool retrospective and warming up to new ideas. Plant Sci, 2018, 270: 301-313

[4] Bailly C. Active oxygen species and antioxidants in seed biology. Seed Sci Res, 2004, 14: 93-107

[5] Barbera M. Reuse of food waste and wastewater as a source of polyphenolic compounds to use as food additives. J AOAC Int, 2020, 103: 906-914

[6] Bianco A, Melito S, Garau M, Giannini V, Zara G, Assandri D, Oufensou S, Coronas R, Pampuro N, Budroni M. The potential use of brewers’ spent grain-based substrates as horticultural bio-fertilizers. Front Sustain Food Syst, 2024, 8: 1404914

[7] Buchmann C, Korz S, Moraru A, Richling E, Sadzik S, Scharfenberger-Schmeer M, Muñoz K. From winery by-product to soil improver?—A comprehensive review of grape pomace in agriculture and its effects on soil properties and functions. Sci Total Environ, 2025, 982: 179611

[8] Chantarawong W, Kuncharoen N, Tanasupawat S, Chanvorachote P. Lumichrome inhibits human lung cancer cell growth and induces apoptosis via a p53-dependent mechanism. Nutr Cancer, 2019, 71: 1390-1402

[9] Chattaraj S, Mitra D, Ganguly A, Thatoi H, Das Mohapatra PK. A critical review on the biotechnological potential of brewers’ waste: challenges and future alternatives. Curr Res Microb Sci, 2024, 6: 100228

[10] Chaves MM, Oliveira MM. Mechanisms underlying plant resilience to water deficits: prospects for water-saving agriculture. J Exp Bot, 2004, 55: 2365-2384

[11] Chen FB, Feng YC, Huo SP. Seed coating with micronutrients improves germination, growth, yield and microelement nutrients of maize (Zea Mays L). Biotech Histochem, 2023, 98: 230-242

[12] Conte F, van Buuringen N, Voermans NC, Lefeber DJ. Galactose in human metabolism, glycosylation and congenital metabolic diseases: time for a closer look. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj, 2021, 1865: 129898

[13] Curl CL, Spivak M, Phinney R, Montrose L. Synthetic pesticides and health in vulnerable populations: agricultural workers. Curr Environ Health Rep, 2020, 7: 13-29

[14] Durgadevi P, Girigoswami K, Girigoswami A. Biodegradable nanomaterials in boosting seed Vigor and germination: seed coating towards sustainability. Discov Appl Sci, 2025, 7: 695

[15] Ellis RH, Hong TD. Temperature sensitivity of the low-moisture-content limit to negative seed longevity–moisture content relationships in hermetic storage. Ann Bot, 2006, 97: 785-791

[16] Friedman M. Analysis, Nutrition, and health benefits of Tryptophan. Int J Tryptophan Res, 2018, 11: 1178646918802282

[17] Groff MC, Flores LF, Vaidya K, Priyanka PP. Shaaban M. Agricultural renewable residues for a sustainable Agro-Industrial production. Soils and sustainable agriculture, 2025, Cham, Springer

[18] Grønlien KG, Valen H, Pain M, Bruzell E, Tønnesen HH. Bacterial phototoxicity of lumichrome photocrosslinked collagen hydrogels. Sustain Chem Pharm, 2023, 31: 100958

[19] Jackowski M, Niedźwiecki Ł, Jagiełło K, Uchańska O, Trusek A. Brewer’s spent Grains-Valuable beer industry By-Product. Biomolecules, 2020, 10: 1669

[20] Jisha KC, Vijayakumari K, Puthur JT. Seed priming for abiotic stress tolerance: an overview. Acta Physiol Plant, 2013, 35: 1381-1396

[21] Kallel F, Ellouz Chaabouni S. Perspective of Garlic processing wastes as low-cost substrates for production of high-added value products: A review. Environ Prog Sustain Energy, 2017, 36: 1765-1777

[22] Kałużna-Czaplińska J, Gątarek P, Chirumbolo S, Chartrand MS, Bjørklund G. How important is Tryptophan in human health?. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2019, 59: 72-88

[23] Karastergiou A, Gancel AL, Jourdes M, Teissedre PL. Valorization of grape pomace: A review of phenolic Composition, Bioactivity, and therapeutic potential. Antioxid (Basel), 2024, 13: 1131

[24] Katileviciute A, Plakys G, Budreviciute A, Onder K, Damiati S, Kodzius R. A sight to wheat bran: high Value-Added products. Biomolecules, 2019, 9: 887

[25] Kaza S, Yao LC, Bhada-Tata P, Van Woerden F. What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050, 2018, Washington, DC, World Bank

[26] Kumar V, Singh P, Sharma J, Saini S, Sharma P, Sharma A. Rice straw management through biofuel, biochar, mushroom cultivation, and paper production to overcome environmental pollution in North India. Waste Dispos Sustain Energy, 2023, 5: 483-510

[27] Li M, Su J, Yang H, Feng L, Wang M, Xu G, Shao J, Ma C. Grape tartaric acid: chemistry, function, metabolism, and regulation. Horticulturae, 2023, 9: 1173

[28] Lisec J, Schauer N, Kopka J, Willmitzer L, Fernie AR. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling in plants. Nat Protoc, 2006, 1: 387-396

[29] Margaoan R, Papa G, Nicolescu A, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Kösoğlu M, Topal E, Negri I. Environmental pollution effect on honey bees and their derived products: a comprehensive analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2025, 32: 10370-10391

[30] Meena DC, Birthal PS, Kumara TMK. Biostimulants for sustainable development of agriculture: a bibliometric content analysis. Discov Agric, 2025, 3: 2

[31] Naqvi SAZ, Irfan A, Zahoor AF, Zafar M, Maria A, Chand AJ, Ashfaq S. Determination of antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of agro-waste peels. Acad Bras Cienc, 2020, 92: e20181103

[32] Nyhan L, Sahin AW, Schmitz HH, Siegel JB, Arendt EK. Brewers’ spent grain: an unprecedented opportunity to develop sustainable Plant-Based nutrition ingredients addressing global malnutrition challenges. J Agric Food Chem, 2023, 71: 10543-10564

[33] Onipe OO, Jideani AIO, Beswa D. Composition and functionality of wheat Bran and its application in some cereal food products. Int J Food Sci Technol, 2015, 50: 2509-2518

[34] Overvoorde P, Fukaki H, Beeckman T. Auxin control of root development. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol, 2010, 2: a001537

[35] Paparella S, Araújo SS, Rossi G, Wijayasinghe M, Carbonera D, Balestrazzi A. Seed priming: state of the Art and new perspectives. Plant Cell Rep, 2015, 34: 1281-1293

[36] Priyanka G, Singiri JR, Adler-Agmon Z, Sannidhi S, Daida S, Novoplansky N, Grafi G. Detailed analysis of agro-industrial byproducts/wastes to enable efficient sorting for various agro-industrial applications. Bioresour Bioprocess, 2024, 11: 45

[37] Prückler M, Siebenhandl-Ehn S, Apprich S, Hoeltinger S, Haas C, Schmid E, Kneifel W. Wheat Bran-based biorefinery 1: composition of wheat Bran and strategies of functionalization. LWT – Food Sci Technol, 2014, 56: 211-221

[38] Ranganathan U, Groot SPC. Dadlani M, Yadava DK. Seed longevity and deterioration. Seed science and technology, 2023, Singapore, Springer

[39] Ren D, Ding C, Qian Q. Molecular bases of rice grain size and quality for optimized productivity. Sci Bull (Beijing), 2023, 68: 314-350

[40] Sadh PK, Duhan S, Duhan JS. Agro-industrial wastes and their utilization using solid state fermentation: A review. Bioresour Bioprocess, 2018, 5: 1

[41] Schmuck R, Lewis G. Review of field and monitoring studies investigating the role of nitro-substituted neonicotinoid insecticides in the reported losses of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera). Ecotoxicology, 2016, 25: 1617-1629

[42] Shebis Y, Fallik E, Rodov V, Sagiri SS, Poverenov E. Oligomers of carboxymethyl cellulose for postharvest treatment of fresh produce: the effect on fresh-cut strawberry in combination with natural active agents. Foods, 2022, 11: 1117

[43] Singiri JR, Swetha B, Ben-Natan A, Grafi G. What Worth the Garlic Peel. Int J Mol Sci, 2022, 23: 2126

[44] Sisti L, Gioia C, Totaro G, Verstichel S, Cartabia M, Camere S, Celli A. Valorization of wheat Bran agro-industrial byproduct as an upgrading filler for mycelium-based composite materials. Ind Crops Prod, 2021, 170: 113742

[45] Slominski A, Semak I, Pisarchik A, Sweatman T, Szczesniewski A, Wortsman J. Conversion of L-tryptophan to serotonin and melatonin in human melanoma cells. FEBS Lett, 2002, 511: 102-106

[46] Smith S, De Smet I. Root system architecture: insights from Arabidopsis and cereal crops. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2012, 367: 1441-1452

[47] van Wyk N, Borgmeier C, Kleber A, Gabor EM. Sustainable approaches in viticulture: from wastes and side streams to high-value products. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol, 2025, 191: 151-184

[48] Wimalasekera R. Hakeem K. Role of seed quality in improving crop yields. Crop production and global environmental issues, 2015, Cham, Springer

[49] Xia J, Wishart DS. Using metaboanalyst 3.0 for comprehensive metabolomics data analysis. Curr Protoc Bioinf, 2016, 55: 1-91

[50] Xue C, Li G, Zheng Q, Gu X, Shi Q, Su Y, Chu Q, Yuan X, Bao Z, Lu J, Li L. Tryptophan metabolism in health and disease. Cell Metab, 2023, 35: 1304-1326

[51] Zhang K, Zhang Y, Sun J, Meng J, Tao J. Deterioration of orthodox seeds during ageing: influencing factors, physiological alterations and the role of reactive oxygen species. Plant Physiol Biochem, 2021, 158: 475-485

[52] Zhang K, Khan Z, Yu Q, Qu Z, Liu J, Luo T, Zhu K, Bi J, Hu L, Luo L. Biochar coating is a sustainable and economical approach to promote seed coating technology, seed germination, plant performance, and soil health. Plants (Basel), 2022, 11: 2864

Funding

Israel Innovation Authority(79200)

Israel Chemical Ltd.(Israel Chemical Ltd.)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s)