| Abstract: | Tiny, inconspicuous duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are often considered a nuisance, due to their propensity to rapidly cover surfaces of water bodies. However, their pronounced growth potential, together with their particular morphological, clonal and genomic properties and their easy cultivation make them valuable model plants for studies, and have established them as indicator plants in the field of ecotoxicology. Duckweeds can make a valuable contribution to wastewater remediation, and the biomass that their growth thereby provides can be of value in many ways, including energy generation, fuel production and use as fertilizer and animal food. Duckweeds grown under controlled conditions can contribute to human nutrition and serve as biofactories for heterologous protein expression. The versatile usage potential of duckweeds has not been thoroughly exploited, as it could and should be in the future. |
