Application Prospects of Alginate Oligosaccharides in Regulating Maize Stress Tolerance: A Review

Maize (Zea mays L.) plays an irreplaceable role in food, feed, and energy security. However, abiotic stresses, including drought, high temperature, salinity, and waterlogging, driven by climate warming, cause yield losses of 20–30% of global maize production every year, posing a serious threat to global food security and human development. Traditional approaches such as genetic improvement, agronomic optimization, and chemical regulation struggle to address the multiple stresses affecting maize. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOSs)—linear oligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization of 2–20—can systematically activate plant immunity, reshape root architecture, enhance antioxidant defense, and regulate ion homeostasis to simultaneously achieve yield enhancement and stress tolerance. This review assesses global maize production and abiotic stress-induced losses and analyzes the limitations of existing yield stabilization technologies. The molecular physiological networks through which AOSs regulate maize yield formation and stress adaptation are also elucidated. Furthermore, through bibliometric analysis, we reveal the evolutionary trajectory from phenotypic observation to mechanistic dissection and identify current knowledge gaps. Finally, we propose future research priorities, including AOS receptor identification, model applications of AOSs, and combined-stress regulation by AOSs. This review provides theoretical foundations and practical pathways for incorporating AOSs into sustainable maize development.