BIOPEP-UWM, a peptide database, contains 5128 peptides from a myriad of resources. Five listed peptides are Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE-1; EC3.4.15.1) inhibitory peptides derived from a red alga, while two from Chlorella vulgaris have anti-cancer and antioxidative bioactivities. Herein, we describe a process combining hydrolysis with two enzymes, Alcalase and Viscozyme, and filtration to generate protein-rich, bioactive peptide-containing hydrolysates from mixed species of Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. The potential of generated algal hydrolysates to act as food ingredients was determined by assessment of their techno-functional (foaming, emulsification, solubility, water holding, and oil holding capacity) properties. Bioactive screening of hydrolysates in vitro combined with mass spectrometry (MS) and in silico predictions identified bioactive and functional hydrolysates and six novel peptides. Peptides derived from Chlorella mix have the sequences YDYIGNNPAKGGLF and YIGNNPAKGGLF with predicted anti-inflammatory (medium confidence) and umami potential. Peptides from Scenedesmus mix have sequences IEWYGPDRPKFL, RSPTGEIIFGGETM, TVQIPGGERVPFLF, and IEWYGPDRPKFLGPF with predicted anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and umami attributes. Such microalgal hydrolysates could provide essential amino acids to consumers as well as tertiary health benefits to improve human global health.

The efficient transfer of nutrients to plants in the form of biofertilizers on poor substrate was investigated. Biochar and dried algae biomass as well as mineral fertilizer were used to test the growth of the Palestinian ‘Rehan’ barley cultivar under salinity stress (4, 8, and 16 mS/cm EC). Rehan cultivar showed resilience to moderate levels of salinity and could still grow under high salinity stress (16 mS/cm EC). Rehan barley possessed better growth at early growth stage under the applied biofertilizers such as dried freshwater algal biomass (Chlorella vulgaris) and nutrient-laden biochar. It showed better growth than wheat (ssp. scirocco) under the same conditions. Its growth was highly improved by biochar treatment in low and moderate salinity conditions. Moreover, the combined effect between biochar and dried algae biomass could improve Rehan barley growth, but less than the effect of each biofertilizer separately. The biofertilizers affected most plant growth parameters under the salinity level of 4 and 8 mS/cm EC positively, while the growth declined again at 16 mS/cm EC. Overall, the biochar treatment showed the same effect as the mineral fertilizer on most of the parameters. The dried algae biomass and biochar also affected soil conditions. The highest soil water content (15.09%) was found in algae biomass treatments with 16 mS/cm EC. Biochar with 8 and 16 mS/cm EC had the highest pH value (8.63) near the rhizospheres. The nitrogen level was highest in the bottom soil sample (0.28 g N/kg soil) for biochar with 0 and 4 mS/cm EC. Meanwhile, the phosphate concentration was the highest (3.3 mg PO₃⁻²/kg soil) in algae fertilizer treatments with 0 mS/cm EC in the bottom soil sample and lowest (4.14 mg PO₃⁻²/kg soil) for the biochar with 8 mS/cm EC. The dried algae biomass and the biochar treatments can subsequently be viewed as conditioner substrates for improving the quality and fertility of the soil. Where possible, they should be considered as complement or replacement of mineral and manure fertilization to improve the impact on soil and environment.

Salinity is a major constraint for crop health and productivity, particularly on arid, semiarid, and otherwise marginal soils, such as quarry residue. Quarries are a main pillar of national income in Palestine but have a long-lasting toll on the environment. We examined barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), another pillar of the Palestinian economy and one of the most important crops in the world, in this regard for its tolerance to salinity stress. This study is the first to evaluate the impact of salinity (50, 85, 120, and 175 mM NaCl) on seed germination, early growth stage, and morpho-anatomy on ten pre-selected certified Palestinian barley cultivars (Baladi, Improved Baladi, Rihan, ICARDA 1, ICARDA 15, ACSAD 68, ACSAD 176, ACSAD 1417, ACSAD 1732, and ACSAD 1744) to assess their potential for a successful growth start under adverse saline conditions. In addition, soil samples from quarries in Hebron governorate were randomly selected and tested for salinity level, electrical conductivity, and total of soluble salts for a first rough overview of options for applying our results, since local data are often scarce or outdated. The examined soil samples reached electrical conductivity (EC) ranges of 1.81 × 10⁻⁴–9.071 × 10⁻⁴ dS m⁻¹, which are below the normal EC (11–57 × 10⁻⁴ dS m⁻¹). This result may contraindicate the hypothesis that quarry lands always suffer from salinity stress. Cultivars such as ACSAD 68 and Icarda 15 proved very sensitive to higher salinity stress with high G₅₀ (time point when 50% of seeds have germinated) at 4.4 d, with 120 mM NaCl (ACSAD 68) or incalculable amounts (Icarda 15) and just 50 and 20% total germination, respectively. Concentrations of 175 mM NaCl were found in ACSAD 176 and Improved Baladi (no G₅₀, 37 and 30% germination, respectively). Some cultivars showed a moderate to high resilience to salinity, such as ICARDA I, ACSAD 1417, and ACSAD 1744, which reached > 80% seed germination at 120 mM NaCl and >60% at 175 mM NaCl, and G₅₀ within 1.5–2.2 days; the most resilient was ACSAD 1732 with G₅₀ < 2 days and germination still >80% at 175 mM NaCl. This is strongly supported by the monitored growth parameters. In conclusion, ACSAD1732 and Icarda 1 cultivars are highly recommended for cultivation in areas of low precipitation and high salt accumulation. In addition, the land and/or soil of quarries, their landfills, and nearby areas in Palestine may be fit for barley cultivation with recommended cultivars regarding salinity stress.

• AlgalTextile (AT) is a new fully organic material for wastewater treatment. • Phosphorus and nitrogen uptake by AT is better than most microbiological methods. • Outlook: seasonal wastewater treatment, surface runoff, eutrophic water bodies. • Possible utilization: biofertilizer, anti-desertification agent, biofuel.

The temporary storage of wet algae concentrates enables the decoupling in time of algae harvests and their biorefinery. However, the impact of cultivation and of the harvest conditions on algae quality during preservation is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the impact of nutrient limitation and of harvest methods on the preservation of Chlorella vulgaris biomass. Algae were either well-fed until harvest or received no nutrients for one week, and were harvested by either batch or continuous centrifugation. The organic acid formation, lipid levels, and lipolysis were monitored. Nutrient limitation had a large impact and resulted in lower pH values (4.9 ± 0.4), high levels of lactic acid and acetic acid, and a slightly higher degree of lipid hydrolysis. Concentrates of well-fed algae had a higher pH (7.4 ± 0.2) and another pattern of fermentation products with mainly acetic acid, succinic acid, and, to a smaller extent, lactic acid and propionic acid. The effect of the harvest method was smaller, with, most often, higher lactic acid and acetic acid levels for algae harvested by continuous centrifugation than for those obtained by batch centrifugation. In conclusion, nutrient limitation, a well-known method to enhance algae lipid levels, can impact several quality attributes of algae during their wet storage.