Abstract: Seaweeds are important marine resource rich in polysaccarides, oligosaccharides, polyphenols, plant hormones, pigments, and many other active substances. The seaweeds have diverse biological functions like providing nutrition, keeping water moisture for plants, promoting plant growth and reproduction, and improving the resistance ability to disease and stress in plants. The yield and quality of crops also raise because of the effects of seaweeds productions. The algal functional materials have been applied in many agriculture fields as fertilization, pesticide, moisturizer, elicitor and hormone et al. In this paper, the description, preparation techniques and the application of algal functional materials in agriculture were reviewed, and the potential commercial development of applying the algal functional materials in agriculture were discussed too.

Key words: seaweed, algal functional material, agriculture