Next Article in Journal
Nitrogen Responsiveness of Maize Hybrids Under Dryland Conditions
Previous Article in Journal
Dual Role of Iron Oxides in Stabilizing Particulate and Mineral-Associated Organic Carbon Under 0Field Management in Paddies
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Agriculture
Volume 15
Issue 13
10.3390/agriculture15131386
agriculture-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Foliar Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation

by
Yulin Xiong
1,2,
He Liu
1,2,
Dongliang Li
1,3,
Wei Xie
1,2,
Zhong Wang
1,2,
Xiaohong Fang
1,2,
Jizhou Wang
1,2,
Wei Chen
1,2,
Xi Du
1,
Yanyan Li
1,
Chuanpeng Nie
1,
Chuanhua Yin
1,
Pumo Cai
1,2,* and
Yongcong Hong
1,*
1
College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan 354300, China
2
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
3
College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2025, 15(13), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131386 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 12 April 2025 / Revised: 13 June 2025 / Accepted: 25 June 2025 / Published: 27 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The plant microbiome plays a crucial role in the health of the tea plant, while Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely utilized as a biological pesticide in tea gardens, promoting sustainable agricultural practices. However, the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality and the structure and function of the phyllosphere microbiome remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of Bt spraying on tea quality, microbiome composition, diversity, and potential functions using tea leaf quality measurements and high-throughput sequencing of the 16S/ITS rDNA genes. Results showed that spraying Bt1 significantly increased the contents of free amino acids (by 15.27%), flavonoids (by 18.00%), soluble sugars (by 62.55%), and key compounds such as epicatechin gallate (by 10.50%), gallocatechin gallate (by 122.52%), and epigallocatechin gallate (by 61.29%), leading to improved leaf quality. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the community structure of both epiphytic and endophytic microbes became more complex after Bt treatment. The abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Novosphingobium, Methylobacterium, and Sphingomonas, increased significantly, while pathogenic fungi like Aspergillus and Phyllosticta decreased. Functional prediction indicated enhanced amino acid metabolism, secondary metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism, particularly the biosynthesis of flavonoids, which supports disease resistance and boosts secondary metabolite levels. Furthermore, Bt application reduced pathogenic fungi, enhancing the tea plant’s resistance to diseases. Overall, foliar spraying of Bt can positively alter the phyllosphere microbiome by enriching beneficial bacteria and improving metabolic functions, ultimately enhancing tea plant resistance and quality, and providing a scientific basis for sustainable pest management in tea cultivation.
Keywords: Bt; functional prediction; high-throughput sequencing; phyllosphere microbiome structure; metabolic function; tea plant resistance Bt; functional prediction; high-throughput sequencing; phyllosphere microbiome structure; metabolic function; tea plant resistance

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Xiong, Y.; Liu, H.; Li, D.; Xie, W.; Wang, Z.; Fang, X.; Wang, J.; Chen, W.; Du, X.; Li, Y.; et al. Foliar Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation. Agriculture 2025, 15, 1386. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131386

AMA Style

Xiong Y, Liu H, Li D, Xie W, Wang Z, Fang X, Wang J, Chen W, Du X, Li Y, et al. Foliar Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation. Agriculture. 2025; 15(13):1386. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131386

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xiong, Yulin, He Liu, Dongliang Li, Wei Xie, Zhong Wang, Xiaohong Fang, Jizhou Wang, Wei Chen, Xi Du, Yanyan Li, and et al. 2025. "Foliar Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation" Agriculture 15, no. 13: 1386. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131386

APA Style

Xiong, Y., Liu, H., Li, D., Xie, W., Wang, Z., Fang, X., Wang, J., Chen, W., Du, X., Li, Y., Nie, C., Yin, C., Cai, P., & Hong, Y. (2025). Foliar Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Enhances Tea Quality and Plant Defense via Phyllosphere Microbiome Modulation. Agriculture, 15(13), 1386. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131386

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop