Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / As macroalgas marinhas sÃo consideradas fontes promissoras de compostos bioativos para estudos fitoquÃmicos. Tais compostos possuem diferentes propriedades biolÃgicas, funcionando como antibacterianos, antifÃngicos, antivirais, anti-inflamatÃrios, anti-helmÃnticos, antileishmaniose, antimalÃria, antioxidantes, antitumorais cuja utilizaÃÃo como fÃrmacos tem despertado o interesse de muitos pesquisadores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a investigaÃÃo fitoquÃmica do extrato etanÃlico da macroalga marinha verde Ulva fasciata. O material foi coletado em abril de 2008, na Praia do Pacheco, no municÃpio de Caucaia-CE. As macroalgas in natura foram desidratadas em estufa com recirculaÃÃo de ar a 40ÂC por 15 horas e, em seguida, trituradas, obtendo-se 500 g, os quais foram submetidos primeiramente a uma extraÃÃo a frio com hexano (UFH), e posteriormente com etanol a 70% (UFE). Para o isolamento e a purificaÃÃo dos constituintes fixos foi empregada uma combinaÃÃo de tÃcnicas cromatogrÃficas clÃssicas em que foram isolados UF-1, UF-2 e UF-3. Na amostra UF-1 foi observada a presenÃa de um constituinte majoritÃrio (86,17%) com tempo de retenÃÃo de 24,940 min, cujo espectro de massas o caracterizou por apresentar o Ãon molecular M+ 284. A sugestÃo fornecida pela anÃlise CG-EM e a comparaÃÃo visual do espectro do composto analisado com os da literatura, bem como pela proposta mecanÃstica de formaÃÃo dos principais fragmentos reforÃaram sua identificaÃÃo como hexadecanoato de etila com um Ãndice de similaridade de 96%. Os compostos UF-2 e UF-3 foram encaminhados para o Centro Nordestino de AplicaÃÃo e Uso da RessonÃncia MagnÃtica Nuclear (CENAUREMN) da Universidade Federal do CearÃ, para a determinaÃÃo sua estrutura quÃmica atravÃs de tÃcnicas espectroscÃpicas de RMN 1H e 13C uni- e bidimensionais (1H, 1H-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC, ROESY, NOESY e TOCSY), bem como por espectrometria de massa (EM). / Marine macroalgae have been considered promising sources of bioactive compounds. These compounds exhibit different biological properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihelminthic, antileshmaniose, antimalaria, antioxidants, and antitumor. Their use as medicine has spurred the interest of many researches. The objective of this work was to carry out a phytochemistry investigation of the ethanolic extract of green marine macroalga Ulva fasciata. The plant material was collected in April 2008 at Pacheco Beach, Caucaia-CE. Macroalgae in natura were dehydrated in an air-circulation oven at 40ÂC for 15 hours. After the drying process, the material was cut into small pieces. 500 grams were submitted to a cold extraction with hexane (UFH) followed by an extraction with 70% ethanol (UFE). Both isolation and purification from fixed constituents were performed using a combination of classic chromatographic techniques. Three samples were isolated and named UF-1, UF-2 and UF-3. The presence of a major constituent (86.17%) with retention time of 24.940 min was observed in the first sample (UF-1), and its mass spectrum was characterized by the molecular ion M+ 284. The GC-MS analysis suggestion and the comparison of its spectrum with literature reinforce its identification as ethyl hexadecanoate with a similarity index of 96%. Compounds UF-2 and UF-3 have been taken to the Northeastern Center of Application and Use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CENAUREMN) of Federal University of Ceara, to determine the chemical structure by spectroscopy techniques such as uni- and bidimensional (1H, 1H-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC, ROESY, NOESY and TOCSY) 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, as well as mass spectrometry (MS).

Ulva intestinalis är en fotoautotrof grönalg som är utspridd i stora delar av världen och har ett flertal användningsområden, däribland som matråvara samt som biobränsle. Matindustrin står idag för en fjärdedel av världens utsläpp av växthusgaser. För att FN:s globala mål ska uppnås innan år 2030 måste dessa utsläpp minska. Ett sätt att bidra till att målen nås är att ändra vilka livsmedel som produceras, där alger kan vara en del av den framtida mera hållbara maten. Syftet Med detta arbete var att undersöka möjligheterna för en hållbar algodling för matkonsumtion.Målet var att genom en litteraturstudie hitta en parameter som potentiellt kan påverka tillväxten av Ulva intestinalis och planera ett experiment i en odlingsanläggning på norra Öland som undersöker den valda parametern. I litteraturstudien undersöktes det vilken parameter som skulle kunna testas i en framtida odlingsanläggning. Resultatet som erhölls från litteraturstudien var att substrat är viktigt för algens sporsättning och i kombination med projektets begränsande faktorer blev substrat den parameter som bör testas i experimentet. Utifrån att substrat valdes som parameter lades ett förslag på ett experiment fram. Slutligen diskuterades potentiella felkällor samt så gavs det förslag på eventuella fortsatta studier. / Ulva intestinalis is a photoautotroph green algae that is found in large parts of the world, and has a variety of uses, for example as food and as biofuel. The food industry is responsible for one fourth of the world’s green gas emissions, and for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to be reached before the year 2030, these emissions must be reduced. One way to contribute to the achievement of these goals is to change what kind of food is being produced,and algae could be part of the more sustainable future food. The purpose with the project was to examine the possibilities for a sustainable land-based algal cultivation for food use. The goal was to find a parameter that could potentially influence the growth of Ulva intestinalis, and to plan an experiment in a cultivation plant in northern Öland that examines the selected parameter. The method that was selected to fulfill the goal of the project was a literature study, in which some potential growth parameters were identified, so a conclusion of which parameter should be tested in a future experiment could be made. The result from the study was that substratum is important for the settlement of the spores, and in combination with the limits of the project it was chosen to be the parameter to be tested in the planned experiment. On the basis of substratum as the selected parameter, a proposal for an experiment was presented. Finally, potential sources of error were discussed, and suggestions for future studies were made.

Les molécules naturelles de différentes origines et essentiellement celles issues des algues marines conçoivent une panoplie de principes bioactifs naturels à fort potentiel thérapeutique. Actuellement, plusieurs recherches sont consacrées à l’isolement de nouveaux composés bioactifs à partir des ressources marines qui renferment des effets bénéfiques prometteurs pour la santé. Parmi les ressources marines, les composés bioactifs présents dans de nombreuses espèces d’algues ont des propriétés nutritionnelles et pharmaceutiques particulièrement intéressantes. Cette thèse s’intéresse aux effets bénéfiques de l’algue Ulva rigida. Elle concerne plus particulièrement les activités des extraits protéiques de l’algue verte Ulva rigida. En effet, dans la présente étude, nous avons étudié l'effet préventif d'un extrait de protéine (PE) d'Ulva rigida contre les dommages cellulaires induits par les UVB. Nous avons démontré qu'un traitement des astrocytes corticaux avec 50 μg de PE induit un fort effet glioprotecteur et supprime les effets nocifs des rayonnements UVB, augmentant en particulier la viabilité cellulaire. D’autres essais supplémentaires nous ont permis d’affirmer que cet extrait stimule l'activité de la catalase et de la superoxyde dismutase et inhibe la production de marqueurs de stress, tels que le H2O2 ou la peroxydation lipidique. Par ailleurs, la digestion protéolytique ou le traitement thermique de l'extrait d'algue ont inhibé cet effet préventif, plaidant pour le rôle prédominant de la fraction protéique. Par la suite, des études protéomiques ont permis d'identifier plusieurs protéines de l'extrait, parmi lesquelles la calmoduline s'est avérée représenter un contributeur important aux activités de protection observées à la fois sur des cultures d’astrocytes que sur des neurones en grain. / Natural molecules from different origins present a high therapeutic potential. Among them, molecules extracted from marine algae are particularly interesting. Several studies are currently being devoted to the isolation of new bioactive compounds from marine resources that have promising health benefits. Among the marine resources, the bioactive compounds present in many species of algae have particularly interesting nutritional and pharmaceutical properties. This thesis deals with the beneficial effects of the alga Ulva rigida. It relates more particularly to the activities of the protein extract of the green alga Ulva rigida. In this study, we studied the preventive effect of a protein extract (PE) of Ulva rigida against UVB-induced cell damage. We have demonstrated that treatment of cortical astrocytes with 50 μg of PE induces a strong glioprotective effect and suppresses the harmful effects of UVB radiation, in particular increasing cell viability. Other extra tests allowed us to say that this extract stimulates the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase and inhibits the production of stress markers such as H2O2 or lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the proteolytic digestion or the heat treatment of the algal extract inhibited this preventive effect, arguing for the predominant role of the protein fraction. Subsequently, proteomic studies have identified several proteins in the extract, of which calmodulin has been shown to be an important contributor to the protective activities observed on both astrocyte and neuron cultures.

This study has investigated the involvement of photosynthetic electron transport chain on the regulation of gene expression of methionine sulfoxide reductase (UfMSR) in the marine macroalga Ulva fasciata Delile.UfMSRA is from copper stress and UfMSRB ir from hypersalinity stress. UfMSRA is similar to Arabidopsis AtMSRA4 and UfMSRB is similar to AtMSRB1. UfMSRA is specific to the MetSO S-enantiomer and UfMSRB catalytically reduces the MetSO R-enantiomer. Both enzymes are required, since in the cell oxidation of Met residues at the sulfur atom results in a racemic mixture of the two stereoisomers. UfMSRA and UfMSRB transcripts were increased by white light, blue light and red light with the maximum at 1 h following a decline, but kept constant in the dark. The magnitude of UfMSRA and UfMSRB transcript increase showed a positive linear correlation to increasing light intensity from 0-1200 u mole¡Pm-2¡Ps-1. The treatment with linear electron transport chain inhibitors, hydroxylamine, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) -1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB) and stigmatellin, effectively inhibited PS II activity under 300 u mole¡Pm-2¡Ps-1 irradiance. DBMIB and stigmatellin can increase UfMSRA transcript that was reversed by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP), a PS I electron donor. It indicates that the block of electron transport of the downstream of cytochrome b6f indeuces UfMSRA gene expression. Hydroxylamine, DCMU and DBMIB decreased UfMSRB transcript that was not reversed by DCPIP while stigmatellin increased UfMSRB mRNA level, reflecting a role of reduced state with Qo site located at cytochrome b6f on the induction of UfMSRB gene expression. The cyclic electron transport chain inhibitors, antimycin A that inhibited photosynthetic electron transport, can inhibit the increase of UfMSRA and UfMSRB transcripts by irradiance. UfMSRA and UfMSRB gene expression were both modulated by cyclic electron transport chain and linear electron transport chain. These results reveal that photosynthetic electron transport chain modulates UfMSRA and UfMSRB gene expression by change its redox state.

This is the first research by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to analysis the gene expression in marine macroalga Ulva fasciata Delile against excess copper toxicity, and it gives us a comprehensive understanding of the tolerant mechanism while macroalgae face to the excess copper. Suppression subtractive hybridization was used to identify genes differentially expressed following exposure to 50 £gM CuSO4 for 6- 12h in a marine macroalga Ulva fasciata Delile. In this work, 69 genes were identified, of which 55 were up-regulated and 14 were down-regulated. According to the database of Gene Ontology (GO), these genes were classified into 10 categories as follows: 1. Transcription; 2. Translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis; 3. Posttranslational modification, protein turnover, chaperones; 4. Photosynthesis; 5. Cell redox homeostasis; 6. Stress; 7. Metabolism; 8. Energy production and conversion; 9. Transport; 10. Function unknown. According to the results, we suggest that the responses of U. fasciata against excess copper toxicity are mainly through increase of the energy production for providing sufficient energy to many metabolic pathways, and control of the Fe homeostasis and redox form of thiol groups for maintaining the cellular redox homeostasis, moreover, expression of photosynthetic genes for letting the photosynthesis work. In addition, to scavenge the ROS is by expression of stress-related genes, meanwhile, the proteins, DNA and lipids damaged by ROS (reactive oxygen species) and copper are repaired by expression of the other categorical genes. Over and above, the genes expressing in the metabolism category might maintain the amino acids homeostasis and increase the purine content, and subsequently increase the tolerant capacity of U. fasciata against excess copper toxicity. In addition, the concentrations of antioxidants and the activities and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes were determined in Ulva fasciata Delile by a 4-day exposure to 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 £gM CuSO4. These results demonstrate that the maintenance of antioxidant homeostasis and the induction of activities of antioxidant enzymes via enhanced gene expression are used by U. fasciata to cope with the Cu-induced oxidative stress, but the defense capacity cannot sufficiently alleviate oxidative damage occurring under the condition of higher Cu concentrations. Moreover, according to the results from the expression of genes involved in the control of redox homeostasis and antioxidant defense was studied in macroalga Ulva fasciata Delile in response to CuSO4 (5 and 50 £gM) and ROS (H2O2 and O2£»-), we suggest that ROS involved in up-regulation of antioxidant defense-related genes and the expression of genes of antioxidant defense enzymes and UfMsrA (methionine sulfoxide reductase A) are associated with long-term adaptation of U. fasciata to Cu excess and transcription of redox- related genes and UfGr (glutathione reductase) is up-regulated for short-term acclimation. Promoters play a key role in regulating gene expression. Based on the analysis of cis-acting elements on UfMsr promoters, we suggested that the signal transduction pathway of copper stress in U. fasciata is related to that of other stresses and of defense-related plant hormones, however, Ca2+ and calmodulin might participate in it. To sum up, U. fasciata could resist oxidative damage caused by excessive copper through the regulation on the molecular level.

Seagrass meadows are highly productive, ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems. However, increased human activities along the coastal areas leading to processes such as eutrophication have resulted in the rapid loss and deterioration of seagrass ecosystems worldwide. This thesis focuses on the responses of seagrasses to increases in nutrients, subsequent increases in ephemeral algae, and changes in the physical-chemical properties of seawater induced by interaction with other marine biota. Both in situ and laboratory experiments conducted on the tropical seagrasses Cymodocea serrulata and Thalassia hemprichii revealed that increased concentrations of water column nutrients negatively affected seagrass photosynthesis by stimulating the growth of the epiphytic biomass on the seagrass leaves. Interaction between seagrasses and other marine organisms induced different responses in seagrass photosynthesis. Ulva intestinalis negatively affected the photosynthetic performance of the temperate seagrass Zostera marina both by reducing the light and by increasing the pH of the surrounding water. On the other hand, the coexistence of mussels Pinna muricata and seagrass Thalassia hemprichii enhanced the photosynthetic activity of the seagrass, but no effect on the mussels' calcification was recorded. This study demonstrates that seagrass productivity is affected by a multitude of indirect effects induced by nutrient over-enrichment, which act singly or in concert with each other. Understanding the responsive mechanisms involved is imperative to safeguard the ecosystem by providing knowledge and proposing measures to halt nutrient loading and to predict the future performance of seagrasses in response to increasing natural and human perturbations. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Papers 1, 3 and 4: Submitted. Paper 2: Manuscript. / Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation (Sida/SAREC) marine bilateral programme

The oceans represent a wealth of biological diversity where many species remain to be discovered and described. Among seaweeds, a paucity of morphological features by which to differentiate species means that many genera harbour overlooked or cryptic species. Fucus, Porphyra and Ulva are three common genera of marine intertidal algae and all include species that are particularly difficult to distinguish morphologically. DNA barcoding has been championed as a revolutionary tool for species identification and discovery and applying this tool to algae was a logical step due to the difficulty of morphological identification of many algal species. This thesis is part of a significant initiative aimed at identification and discovery of all species of seaweeds in Canadian waters, using a DNA barcoding approach. The original concept of DNA barcoding relied on comparing the 5’ region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI-5P) gene among animal species. In this study, DNA barcoding with COI-5P was applied to the brown algal genus Fucus and worked as well as any other marker to assign morphologies to known species. The DNA barcoding results also uncovered substantial phenotypic diversity in Pacific F. distichus. Results were confirmed by comparison with sequences of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region (ITS). For Porphyra, COI-5P DNA barcoding was compared with species identification using the chloroplast large rubisco subunit (rbcL) and the Universal Plastid Amplicon (UPA) in a floristic survey of Canadian Porphyra species. Two new species were discovered and described (Porphyra corallicola and Porphyra peggicovensis), and P. cuneiformis was synonymized with P. amplissima. The COI-5P emerged as the best marker for species discrimination despite difficulties with primer universality. To aid in choosing a marker for DNA barcoding for green algae, the universality and species discriminatory power of the rubisco large subunit (rbcL) (considering the 5’ and 3’ fragments independently), the UPA, the D2/D3 region of the nuclear large ribosomal subunit (LSU-D2/D3) and the ITS were evaluated. While the rbcL-3P highlighted several cryptic species, and worked well to distinguish Ulva species, more research is needed to recommend a marker for DNA barcoding generally in marine green macroalgae.

ALENCAR, Daniel Barroso de. Prospecção química da macroalga marinha verde Ulva fasciata Delile. 2010. 68f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Engenharia de Pesca)-Centro de Ciências Agrária,Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2010. / Submitted by Maria Naires Souza (marianaires@ufc.br) on 2011-11-11T19:22:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010-dis-dbalencar.pdf: 1843830 bytes, checksum: d2be4a7f57929369252c5c735b5c6d2c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Nascimento(vieiraaline@yahoo.com.br) on 2011-11-16T15:00:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2010-dis-dbalencar.pdf: 1843830 bytes, checksum: d2be4a7f57929369252c5c735b5c6d2c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-11-16T15:00:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010-dis-dbalencar.pdf: 1843830 bytes, checksum: d2be4a7f57929369252c5c735b5c6d2c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-27 / Marine macroalgae have been considered promising sources of bioactive compounds. These compounds exhibit different biological properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihelminthic, antileshmaniose, antimalaria, antioxidants, and antitumor. Their use as medicine has spurred the interest of many researches. The objective of this work was to carry out a phytochemistry investigation of the ethanolic extract of green marine macroalga Ulva fasciata. The plant material was collected in April 2008 at Pacheco Beach, Caucaia-CE. Macroalgae in natura were dehydrated in an air-circulation oven at 40°C for 15 hours. After the drying process, the material was cut into small pieces. 500 grams were submitted to a cold extraction with hexane (UFH) followed by an extraction with 70% ethanol (UFE). Both isolation and purification from fixed constituents were performed using a combination of classic chromatographic techniques. Three samples were isolated and named UF-1, UF-2 and UF-3. The presence of a major constituent (86.17%) with retention time of 24.940 min was observed in the first sample (UF-1), and its mass spectrum was characterized by the molecular ion M+ 284. The GC-MS analysis suggestion and the comparison of its spectrum with literature reinforce its identification as ethyl hexadecanoate with a similarity index of 96%. Compounds UF-2 and UF-3 have been taken to the Northeastern Center of Application and Use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CENAUREMN) of Federal University of Ceara, to determine the chemical structure by spectroscopy techniques such as uni- and bidimensional (1H, 1H-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC, ROESY, NOESY and TOCSY) 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, as well as mass spectrometry (MS). / As macroalgas marinhas são consideradas fontes promissoras de compostos bioativos para estudos fitoquímicos. Tais compostos possuem diferentes propriedades biológicas, funcionando como antibacterianos, antifúngicos, antivirais, anti-inflamatórios, anti-helmínticos, antileishmaniose, antimalária, antioxidantes, antitumorais cuja utilização como fármacos tem despertado o interesse de muitos pesquisadores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a investigação fitoquímica do extrato etanólico da macroalga marinha verde Ulva fasciata. O material foi coletado em abril de 2008, na Praia do Pacheco, no município de Caucaia-CE. As macroalgas in natura foram desidratadas em estufa com recirculação de ar a 40°C por 15 horas e, em seguida, trituradas, obtendo-se 500 g, os quais foram submetidos primeiramente a uma extração a frio com hexano (UFH), e posteriormente com etanol a 70% (UFE). Para o isolamento e a purificação dos constituintes fixos foi empregada uma combinação de técnicas cromatográficas clássicas em que foram isolados UF-1, UF-2 e UF-3. Na amostra UF-1 foi observada a presença de um constituinte majoritário (86,17%) com tempo de retenção de 24,940 min, cujo espectro de massas o caracterizou por apresentar o íon molecular M+ 284. A sugestão fornecida pela análise CG-EM e a comparação visual do espectro do composto analisado com os da literatura, bem como pela proposta mecanística de formação dos principais fragmentos reforçaram sua identificação como hexadecanoato de etila com um índice de similaridade de 96%. Os compostos UF-2 e UF-3 foram encaminhados para o Centro Nordestino de Aplicação e Uso da Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (CENAUREMN) da Universidade Federal do Ceará, para a determinação sua estrutura química através de técnicas espectroscópicas de RMN 1H e 13C uni- e bidimensionais (1H, 1H-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC, ROESY, NOESY e TOCSY), bem como por espectrometria de massa (EM).

This study was aimed at discovering the taxonomical identity of freshwater populations of a prevailably marine green-algal genus Ulva in the Czech Republic. Furtherly, collected samples were compared to available relevant material from European herbaria. The identity of collected specimens was successfully resolved by a combined methodology that involved classical and modern molecular techniques, and discussed in the framework of distribution and ecology of close European taxa.

Dans un contexte où les inquiétudes environnementales dues à la pollution sont grandissantes à l’échelle globale, la surveillance de la pollution environnementale constitue un enjeu majeur de recherche afin de préserver au mieux un environnement sain et durable. En effet, la surveillance responsable et continue de l’environnement accompagnée par le développement d’alternatives de lutte « verte » contre les nuisibles, pourrait certainement ralentir voir inhiber la propagation de polluants néfastes pour l’ensemble de la biosphère. Dans ce contexte, les objectifs principaux de cette thèse visent d’une part à caractériser la qualité de l’air par une approche basée sur le biomonitoring, et d’autre part à développer un biopesticide d’origine algale permettant la protection des agrumes en post-récolte comme un exemple d’alternative à l’usage des traitements chimiques classiques. Pour répondre au premier objectif, des méthodes d’extraction multi résidus ont dû être développées. Ces méthodes ont été soit spécifiques d’une famille de pesticides tel que les dithiocarbamates, soit plus large et plus générale en considérant de nombreux polluants comme des pesticides, des HAPs et des PCBs. Ces dernières ont été basées soit sur l’ASE-SPE-SPME, soit sur le QuEChERS-SPME, et ont formé le socle des études de biosurveillance environnementale entreprises. Ces études de surveillance ont permis l’évaluation des modifications spatio-temporelles de la qualité de l’air grâce à des espèces naturelles ayant un rôle de capteurs biologique de la pollution environnementale et permettant par la suite l’estimation de la pollution dans des zones bien définies. Pour répondre au second objectif, des extraits aqueux d’algues vertes, Ulva linza et Ulva lactuca, ont été préparés et testés comme antifongiques in vivo et in vitro afin d’étudier leur aptitude à inhiber le développement de Penicillium digitatum sur des agrumes en post récolte. Un potentiel de protection des agrumes en poste-récolte contre ce champignon a été mis en évidence, donnant effectivement l’espoir à la fiabilité de cette approche comme alternative biologique pour le remplacement des pesticides chimiques potentiellement toxiques. / In a context where environmental concerns due to pollution are growing on a global scale, monitoring of environmental pollution is a major research challenge in order to preserve as much as possible a healthy and sustainable environment. Indeed, the responsible and continuous monitoring of the environment escorted by the development of "green" pest control alternatives could certainly decelerate or even inhibit the spread of harmful pollutants into the entire biosphere. In this context, the main objectives of this thesis are intended firstly to characterize air quality by a biomonitoring-based approach and, secondly, to develop a biopesticide of algal origin, that allows the protection of post-harvested citrus fruit, as an alternative to the use of conventional chemical treatments. In order to answer the first objective, multi-residues extraction methods were developed. These methods were either specific to a family of pesticides such as dithiocarbamates or wider and more general regarding numerous pollutants such as pesticides, PAHs and PCBs. The latter were based either on the ASE-SPE-SPME, or on the QuEChERS-SPME, and formed the base of environmental biomonitoring studies undertaken. These monitoring studies allowed the assessment of spatial and temporal changes in air quality through natural species acting as biological sensors of environmental pollution and subsequently allowing the estimation of pollution in well-defined areas. To answer the second objective aqueous extracts of green algae, Ulva linza and Ulva lactuca, were prepared and tested as in vivo and in vitro antifungal agents, in order to study their ability to inhibit the development of Penicillium digitatum on post-harvested citrus fruits. A potential of post-harvested citrus fruits’ protection against this fungus was proved, giving hope to the reliability of this approach as a biological alternative for the replacement of potentially toxic chemical pesticides.