Article
Microbiology
Akhilesh Kumar, Saurabh Singh, Arpan Mukherjee, Rajesh Prasad Rastogi, Jay Prakash Verma
Summary: Research isolated 36 salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (ST-PGPB) from sodic soil in India, with 13 strains showing better growth properties in high salt concentrations. Inoculation with Bacillus pumilus strain JPVS11 improved rice growth performance, chlorophyll content, and soil enzyme activities, indicating its potential as a beneficial bacterium for mitigating salinity effects in rice.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ramasamy Krishnamoorthy, Aritra Roy Choudhury, Denver Walitang, Rangasamy Anandham, Murugaiyan Senthilkumar, Tongmin Sa
Summary: The rapid increase in soil salinization threatens agricultural output and food security. Improving soil fertility and agricultural yield is crucial, as abiotic factors like soil salinity have rendered a third of land unproductive. Microbes play a key role in addressing agricultural challenges, particularly in communication and stress reduction between plants and beneficial microbes. Proteins and metabolites synthesized by bacteria and plants have important roles in plant stress tolerance, and their genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic characterization aids in increasing crop output.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Horticulture
Bhavna Nigam, Rama Shanker Dubey, Dheeraj Rathore
Summary: Managing sustainable crop production under escalating soil salinity is a major challenge in the coming years. Exogenous application of protectants can ameliorate the adverse effects of salinity on plant growth. This study evaluated the potential role of salicylic acid (SA) and PGPB (Stenotrophomonas sp.) on spinach and soybean cultivars grown under two different salt concentrations. The results showed that 100 ppm salt had more severe effects than 50 ppm salt on the crops and cultivars. Exogenous protectants improved plant growth and yield, as well as osmotic adjustment and antioxidant activity under salt stress. Overall, PGPB was found to be a more effective protectant than SA in reducing salt-induced yield loss.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hafsa Cherif-Silini, Allaoua Silini, Ali Chenari Bouket, Faizah N. Alenezi, Lenka Luptakova, Nawel Bouremani, Justyna Anna Nowakowska, Tomasz Oszako, Lassaad Belbahri
Summary: Research on plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) has led to the development of versatile multifaceted PGPB, however, they have failed to perform effectively in salty environments. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art research in the field of PGPB and proposes a roadmap for the development of next generation versatile and multifaceted PGPB that can perform in salinity. The development of salinity adapted next generation biofertilizers will allow for mitigation and alleviation of biotic and abiotic threats to plant productivity in salty environments.
Article
Agronomy
Yuhao Yuan, Jiang Li, Miaomiao Zhang, Qinghua Yang, Baili Feng
Summary: Soil salinization is a major cause of soil degradation, and cultivating salt-tolerant crops is an effective solution. This study investigated the salt tolerance mechanism in broomcorn millet and found that it is achieved through maintaining Na+/K+ balance and intact cell structures. Additionally, the salt-tolerant variety reshapes the rhizospheric microbial community by attracting specific beneficial microbes, which promote soil nutrient cycling and enhance stress tolerance.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zied Haj-Amor, Tesfay Araya, Dong-Gill Kim, Salem Bouri, Jaehyun Lee, Wahida Ghilou, Yerang Yang, Hojeong Kang, Manoj Kumar Jhariya, Arnab Banerjee, Rattan Lal
Summary: Although significant research has been conducted on the effects of soil salinity issue on agricultural productivity, limited consideration has been given to its critical effects on soil biogeochemistry, land desertification, and biodiversity loss. This article synthesizes information from 238 articles published between 1989 and 2022 and highlights the impact of soil salinity on microbial community composition, soil organic carbon content, greenhouse gas emissions, crop yield, soil biodiversity, and desertification. The study emphasizes the need for innovative mitigation strategies that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and calls for further research to address knowledge gaps and improve understanding of salinity effects.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yiping Zou, Zhengfeng An, Xinli Chen, Xiang Zheng, Ben Zhang, Shuyue Zhang, Scott X. Chang, Jianli Jia
Summary: In the context of climate warming, the use of biochar as a method for improving soil quality and carbon sequestration has gained attention. However, the effects of biochar application on C-mineralization and N transformation are influenced by the presence of plant growth-promoting bacteria and soil nitrogen levels.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Dilfuza Egamberdieva, Burak Alaylar, Aida Kistaubayeva, Stephan Wirth, Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura
Summary: Biochar is a solid product obtained by heating of biomass or organic waste in the total or partial absence of oxygen, and is applied to improve soil properties or considered a means of carbon sequestration. It has been demonstrated to have several positive effects on soil, including increasing soil nutrient retention and microbial community diversity.
COMMUNICATIONS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mariana de Souza Ribeiro, Filipe Almendagna Rodrigues, Ronilson Carlos de Araujo, Michele Carla Nadal, Gracielle Vidal Silva Andrade, Moacir Pasqual, Joyce Doria Rodrigues
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of growth-promoting bacteria in mitigating the morphological effect of salt stress caused by NaCl in strawberries. The results showed that the bacterium Streptomyces sp. had the most significant positive effect on plant growth parameters such as yield, number of leaves, and chlorophyll content. For the cultivar Pircinque, the microorganism Enterobacter sp. stood out among all the others for all the analyzed pigments, while for the cultivar PRA Estiva, there was a greater emphasis on the microorganism Rhizobium sp. in all analyzed pigments. The growth-promoting bacteria mitigated the effects of salinity on strawberry plants, making their growth and photosynthetic production not compromised by NaCl toxicity.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hai Zhu, Jingsong Yang, Yanli Li, Xiaoyuan Liu, Huifang Jin, Jifu Li, Rongjiang Yao
Summary: This study investigated the effect of soil salinity on nitrification and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. The results showed that increased salinity inhibited nitrification and suppressed the abundance of both AOA and AOB. The community structure of AOB was significantly altered by soil salinity, while the effect on AOA was not significant. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria adapted to soil salinity through the replacement of salt-intolerant species with salt-tolerant species.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Han Meng Teo, A. Aziz, A. A. Wahizatul, Kesaven Bhubalan, Siti M. S. Nordahliawate, Muhamad C. I. Syazlie, Lee Chuen Ng
Summary: Land salinization is a global concern that affects agricultural productivity. Traditional methods of crop augmentation have limited success, while using halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (HT-PGPB) as bio-inoculants offers a promising solution.
Article
Microbiology
Gang Wang, Bowen Li, Danliu Peng, Hongzhi Zhao, Mingyang Lu, Lishuang Zhang, Jiali Li, Songhao Zhang, Chunfeng Guan, Jing Ji
Summary: In this study, a salt-tolerant bacterium Myroides sp. JIL321 was isolated from the soil of rice rhizosphere and found to exhibit positive plant growth-promoting traits under salinity stress. The combined use of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and JIL321 enhanced rice seedling growth under salt stress, indicating the potential role of H2S as a signaling molecule in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stresses.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Yang, Yanhua Zhao, Wei Cao, Mengxin Xing, Xiaoyan Xu, Zengyu Wang, Juan Sun
Summary: This study investigated the presence of ARGs and VFs in saline-alkali soils in the Yellow River Delta using shotgun meta-genomic sequencing. The results showed that soil salinization significantly affected the microbial composition and abundance of ARGs/VFs. Different ARGs/VFs and their carriers were found to be positively correlated with soil pH.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Abdussabur M. Kaleh, Pooja Singh, Purabi Mazumdar, Kah Ooi Chua, Jennifer A. Harikrishna
Summary: In this study, halotolerant bacteria were isolated and characterized from a Malaysian mangrove forest. The bacteria were found to promote the growth of banana plants and reduce salt stress, with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced vulnerability.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Stefany Castaldi, Vladimir Totev Valkov, Ezio Ricca, Maurizio Chiurazzi, Rachele Isticato
Summary: Halotolerant bacteria, specifically the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RHF6 strain, have been shown to improve the survival and growth of plants under high salt conditions by exhibiting plant growth-promoting characteristics. These bacteria have the ability to produce indole acetic acid, ammonia, solubilize phosphate, and suppress the proliferation of phytopathogenic fungus. Inoculation with RHF6 significantly enhanced the root and shoot growth, as well as the total fresh weight of the legume model plant Lotus japonicus cv Gifu, under salt stress. Additionally, RHF6 induced a plant antioxidant response, secreted the osmoprotectant proline and reduced ethylene levels via enzymatic activity, suggesting its potential as a beneficial PGPB for degraded soils.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
A. Barreiro, A. Fox, M. Jongen, J. Melo, M. Musyoki, A. Vieira, J. Zimmermann, G. Carlsson, C. Cruz, A. Luscher, F. Rasche, L. Silva, F. Widmer, L. M. Dimitrova Martensson
Summary: This study, which investigates grassland soil microbial communities along a pan-European agro-ecological gradient, shows that environmental properties have the most significant impact on soil bacterial community structure, while soil fungal groups are more responsive to grassland management intensity.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Akbar Padash, Rasoul Azarmi, Ali Ashraf Soltani Toularoud, Behrooz Esmailpour, Cristina Cruz
Summary: This study found through greenhouse experiments that the symbiotic interaction between plants and fungal partners can reduce the harmful effects of nitrification inhibitors on plants, decrease the absorption of nitrification inhibitors by plants, and thus alleviate potential health and environmental issues associated with high levels of nitrification inhibitors.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lalit M. Kandpal, Muhammad A. Munnaf, Cristina Cruz, Abdul M. Mouazen
Summary: The study compared the assessment of soil fertility attributes using different proximal soil sensing techniques and found that spectra fusion methods can improve prediction performance, particularly achieving significant improvements in pH, P, Ca, and MC.
Article
Agronomy
Ana Paula Rosa, Lucia Barao, Lelia Chambel, Cristina Cruz, Margarida Maria Santana
Summary: This study evaluated the response of tomato plants to water scarcity by analyzing changes in leaf reflectance and identifying spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) for the early detection of drought stress. The researchers found 12 SRIs that showed significant differences between treatments, with 6 of them already significantly different within 7 or 9 days after the experiment started. These findings suggest that these SRIs could be used as promising proxies for the early detection of invisible responses to drought onset.
Article
Microbiology
Ines Ferreira, Teresa Dias, Cristina Cruz
Summary: This study investigated whether the volatile organic compound 1-octen-3-ol is involved in the mechanisms of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that modulate below and aboveground communities. Through three in vitro assays, it was found that 1-octen-3-ol had dose-dependent effects on mycelium growth of three ECM species, inhibited seed germination, and influenced host plant traits. These findings suggest that 1-octen-3-ol may mediate changes in below and aboveground communities by regulating the release of ECM fungal volatiles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hocine Abbaci, El-hafid Nabti, Abdullah M. Al-Bekairi, Soheir A. A. Hagras, Mounir M. Salem-Bekhit, Abdenour Adjaoud, Hayat Ali Alzahrani, Leila Bensidhoum, Rawaf Alenazy, Alessandra Piras, Danilo Falconieri, Silvia Porcedda, Yacine Benguerba, Karim Houali
Summary: This study screened the essential oils extracted from twigs, leaves, and fruits of Eucalyptus gunnii Hook. f. for their chemical composition, insecticidal, repellence, and antibacterial properties. GC and GC/MS analysis identified 23, 23, and 21 constituents across the twigs, leaves, and fruits, respectively. Oxygenated monoterpenes were the primary significant class. All three essential oils exhibited moderate antibacterial activities, with the highest activity found in the leaves. Fumigation, contact toxicity, and repellent bioassays showed different potentials depending on the plant extracts, with twigs and leaves as moderate repellents and twigs as a medium toxicant.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ana Paula Rosa, Teresa Dias, Abdul M. Mouazen, Cristina Cruz, Margarida Maria Santana
Summary: Considering the increasing frequency and duration of drought events caused by climate change, enhancing plant drought tolerance is a priority. The search for plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that can improve plant drought tolerance has been ongoing for a long time, but the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we summarize the mechanisms of PGPR that enhance plant drought tolerance, identify the issues in current PGPR isolation and selection methods, and discuss the key points for defining new strategies to obtain optimal PGPR for improving plant drought tolerance. Drought and host genotype affect rhizo-communities, and host-mediated selection strategies can be used to obtain a drought-adapted rhizomicrobiome that can serve as a source for PGPR isolation. Alternatively, an integrated omics-level analysis can enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of rhizomicrobiome construction, allowing for the design of a targeted approach focused on key plant growth-promoting traits. New strategies for building PGPR consortia to enhance plant drought tolerance are also suggested.
JOURNAL OF PLANT INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ana Cruz-Silva, Goncalo Laureano, Marcelo Pereira, Ricardo Dias, Jose Moreira da Silva, Nuno Oliveira, Catarina Gouveia, Cristina Cruz, Margarida Gama-Carvalho, Fiammetta Alagna, Bernardo Duarte, Andreia Figueiredo
Summary: Soil microorganisms are crucial in grapevine cultivation, affecting plant growth and wine quality. This study analyzed the soil microbiome of four different terroirs using long-read sequencing and established microbiome signatures for each region, highlighting the importance of soil microorganisms in defining terroir.
Article
Agronomy
Hayet Beltayef, Mouna Mechri, Wafa Saidi, Taqi Raza, Rim Hajri, Afef Othmani, Khedija Bouajila, Cristina Cruz, Abeer Hashem, Elsayed Fathi Abd Allah, Mongi Melki
Summary: The overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilizers has negative effects on crop quality and the environment. A study showed that co-inoculation of Rhizobium and symbiotic fungi can improve growth, yield, and nutrient content of snap bean plants. This symbiotic interaction enhances mineral nutrition and overall plant growth.
Article
Microbiology
Sylia Ait Bessai, Joana Cruz, Pablo Carril, Juliana Melo, Margarida M. Santana, Abdul M. Mouazen, Cristina Cruz, Ajar Nath Yadav, Teresa Dias, El-hafid Nabti
Summary: This study investigates the existence of halotolerant bacteria with plant growth-promoting capabilities in wheat, a salt-sensitive crop, and examines their impact on wheat growth under different salinity levels.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ines Ferreira, Teresa Dias, Abdul M. Mouazen, Cristina Cruz
Summary: Terfezia arenaria, a desert truffle with nutritional and aromatic properties, has similar nutritional and chemical compositions to commercial mushroom and truffle species, but a different aromatic profile. It can be an ideal source for plant-based meat products.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ana Correa, Nuria Ferrol, Cristina Cruz
Summary: Variations in arbuscular mycorrhizae effects on plant growth are commonly assumed to result from cost : benefit balances, with C as the cost and P as the benefit. The trade-balance model (TBM) hypothesizes that mycorrhizal benefit depends on C : N : P stoichiometry. However, an experimental test of the TBM was not confirmed. The results showed that C distribution to AM fungi played no role in MGR, and N was essential for all AM effects.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Ines Ferreira, Ana Correa, Cristina Cruz
Summary: This article reviews the cultivation practices of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) and forest management studies, focusing on the case of Terfezia cultivation. The sustainable production of these ECMF species can have a significant impact on the economy, culture, and environment in the Mediterranean region, while also contributing to the objectives of the European Green Deal.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)
