UMaine researcher develops model to protect freshwater fish worldwide from extinction
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 24-Feb-2026 18:11 ET (24-Feb-2026 23:11 GMT/UTC)
A research team from the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló, led by Carolina Clausell Terol and Aurelio Gómez Cadenas from the Eco-physiology and Biotechnology research group, has developed a biostimulant composition that protects crops against adverse environmental conditions and improves their performance.
The new compound incorporates proline particles encapsulated in silica, an amino acid that protects cellular structures and enhances plants’ ability to tolerate adverse conditions. Its production process, based on aqueous suspension and spray drying, is easily scalable, cost-effective and reproducible, ensuring protection of the active ingredient against thermal degradation and its controlled release.
“The controlled release of proline”, the research team explains, “activates the plant’s natural defence mechanisms and improves its tolerance to drought, high temperatures and salinity, among other types of stress. In this way, damage is reduced and growth and production are maintained".
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