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Review

State of the Art on the Interaction of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Innovate a Sustainable Plant Health Product

by
Islam Ahmed Abdelalim Darwish
1,
Daniel P. Martins
2,
David Ryan
1 and
Thomais Kakouli-Duarte
1,*
1
Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, enviroCORE, Department of Applied Science, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
2
School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Crops 2025, 5(4), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5040052
Submission received: 26 June 2025 / Revised: 28 July 2025 / Accepted: 31 July 2025 / Published: 6 August 2025

Abstract

Insect pests cause severe damage and yield losses to many agricultural crops globally. The use of chemical pesticides on agricultural crops is not recommended because of their toxic effects on the environment and consumers. In addition, pesticide toxicity reduces soil fertility, poisons ground waters, and is hazardous to soil biota. Therefore, applications of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are an alternative, eco-friendly solution to chemical pesticides and mineral-based fertilizers to enhance plant health and promote sustainable food security. This review focuses on the biological and ecological aspects of these organisms while also highlighting the practical application of molecular communication approaches in developing a novel plant health product. This insight will support this innovative approach that combines PGPR and EPNs for sustainable crop production. Several studies have reported positive interactions between nematodes and bacteria. Although the combined presence of both organisms has been shown to promote plant growth, the molecular interactions between them are still under investigation. Integrating molecular communication studies in the development of a new product could help in understanding their relationships and, in turn, support the combination of these organisms into a single plant health product.
Keywords: biological control; biofertilizer; EPN; PGPR; entomopathogenic nematodes; plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; molecular communication; alginate formulation; crop protection; sustainable crop production biological control; biofertilizer; EPN; PGPR; entomopathogenic nematodes; plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; molecular communication; alginate formulation; crop protection; sustainable crop production

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MDPI and ACS Style

Darwish, I.A.A.; Martins, D.P.; Ryan, D.; Kakouli-Duarte, T. State of the Art on the Interaction of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Innovate a Sustainable Plant Health Product. Crops 2025, 5, 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5040052

AMA Style

Darwish IAA, Martins DP, Ryan D, Kakouli-Duarte T. State of the Art on the Interaction of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Innovate a Sustainable Plant Health Product. Crops. 2025; 5(4):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5040052

Chicago/Turabian Style

Darwish, Islam Ahmed Abdelalim, Daniel P. Martins, David Ryan, and Thomais Kakouli-Duarte. 2025. "State of the Art on the Interaction of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Innovate a Sustainable Plant Health Product" Crops 5, no. 4: 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5040052

APA Style

Darwish, I. A. A., Martins, D. P., Ryan, D., & Kakouli-Duarte, T. (2025). State of the Art on the Interaction of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to Innovate a Sustainable Plant Health Product. Crops, 5(4), 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5040052

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