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Innovative Research on Soil Microbial Ecosystem and Its Interaction with...
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Innovative Research on Soil Microbial Ecosystem and Its Interaction with Crop Plants

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2025) | Viewed by 17216

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fengjie Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Science and Technology, Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA
Interests: plant protection; flower development; molecular systematics and evolution; phylogenetics; plant responses to environmental stress; genetics; genomics; bioinformatics; bioremediation; soil microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The agronomic application of the beneficial soil–plant–microbe interactions is well represented by the nitrogen fixation in agricultural soil by the legume and cereal associative bacteria. Since the discovery of biological nitrogen fixation over a century ago, our knowledge in the areas of soil–plant–microbe interactions has significantly advanced, particularly promoted by the rapid development and establishment of DNA sequencing technology. Numerous studies have evidently shown that in both agronomic and other ecological environments, soil microbial communities contain a diversity of plant-antagonistic and plant-beneficial microbes, to which the crop plants respond in specific ways. Microbial inoculants could influence the various defense mechanisms in crop plants and the biogeochemical processes in the environment through direct or indirect modes of action. To harness the full power of microbes within agronomic soil and microbial systems, it is imperative to improve our understanding of microbial involvement in the biogeochemical process in the terrestrial ecosystem.

In order to develop effective technologies and identify sustainable solutions to improve the agronomic products, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating the interactions among crop plants, rhizosphere soil, and soil microorganisms. This Special Issue aims to publish research on the crop plant–soil–microbe interactions, related to community assembly, nutrient regulation, secretion of secondary metabolites, and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Some of the main aspects of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Impact of soil microorganisms on both quantity and quality of agronomic products and the use of microorganisms as a strategy to improve the yield of agronomic products;
  2. Dynamics of crop plant–microbe interactions in relation to soil conditions and growth of crop plants;
  3. Ecological and evolutionary bases of crop plant–soil–microbe interactions;
  4. Broad impact of plant–soil–microbe interactions on ecosystems and agricultural productivity.

Dr. Fengjie Sun
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil
  • microorganisms
  • crop
  • plant–microbe interactions
  • agronomic products
  • soil health

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4883 KiB  
Article
Improved Phosphorus Bioavailability in Lettuce Crop via Naganishia albida Inoculation of Wastewater-Derived Struvite
by Valentina Carrillo, Rodrigo Pérez, Felipe González, Christian Santander, Antonieta Ruiz, Eduardo Holzapfel, Pablo Cornejo and Gladys Vidal
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020260 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 972
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a vital element for optimal crop growth and agricultural productivity. Struvite, a P precipitate obtained from wastewater, is recognized as a slow-release, low-solubility fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of inoculation with the yeast Naganishia [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) is a vital element for optimal crop growth and agricultural productivity. Struvite, a P precipitate obtained from wastewater, is recognized as a slow-release, low-solubility fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of inoculation with the yeast Naganishia albida on P bioavailability using struvite and triple superphosphate (TSP) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. Struvite fertilization improved N and P assimilation by 14–28% and 12–27%, respectively, compared to TSP and increased soil soluble P by 50% more than TSP and 186% more than the control. Inoculation reduced oxidative stress by 40–44%, improved plant growth by 28% with struvite and 7% with TSP, and increased acid phosphatase activity by 52.7% and 78.1%, respectively, improving nutrient bioavailability. Struvite showed high P solubility in the soil, with only a 3% difference between inoculated and non-inoculated treatments. In addition, the combination of fertilizer and yeast had a synergistic effect, increasing enzyme activity up to 1.8 times for struvite and 2.3 times for TSP. The results highlight the potential of struvite as a recycled fertilizer and the effectiveness of integrating fertilization with microorganisms to improve agricultural efficiency, reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable management in the framework of the circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Research on Soil Microbial Ecosystem and Its Interaction with Crop Plants)
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17 pages, 3068 KiB  
Article
Effect of Digitaria eriantha Endophytic Bacteria on Maize Growth in a Hydroponic System
by Johny J. Mendonça, Michelle J. G. Alves, Gisely M. Vitalino, Maria C. S. Barreto, Eric X. Carvalho, José P. Oliveira, Maria L. R. B. Silva, Felipe J. C. Fracetto, Giselle G. M. Fracetto and Mario A Lira Junior
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2769; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122769 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 691
Abstract
Brazil is one of the largest grain producers worldwide, with yields heavily dependent on ecologically and financially expensive inputs. One possible approach to reduce these inputs is inoculation with plant-growth-promoting bacteria, whose large-scale use depends on a continual search for new genotypes for [...] Read more.
Brazil is one of the largest grain producers worldwide, with yields heavily dependent on ecologically and financially expensive inputs. One possible approach to reduce these inputs is inoculation with plant-growth-promoting bacteria, whose large-scale use depends on a continual search for new genotypes for inoculant production. Several bacteria with potential for this have been isolated from plants that are more adapted to stressful environments. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the potential of pangolão grass (Digitaria eriantha cv. Suvernola) endophytic bacteria both in vitro and on maize growth. To this end, endophytic bacteria were isolated from pangolão grass of a tropical semiarid climate and a random subset of 80 strains was evaluated for biological nitrogen fixation, HCN, IAA and siderophore production and calcium phosphate solubilization, and later for maize growth promotion. All strains were positive for at least one of these in vitro growth promotion mechanisms and some strains increased maize plant height and root length, including some with better results than plants receiving commercial inoculants, confirming the potential of endophytic bacteria from stress-adapted plants. In vitro results had poor correlation with plant growth promotion, which indicates that the common practice of using these laboratory techniques as a pre-selection tool before a subset of strains is evaluated for plant growth promotion might result in the rejection of potentially interesting strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Research on Soil Microbial Ecosystem and Its Interaction with Crop Plants)
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Review

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24 pages, 4171 KiB  
Review
Spectral Intelligence: AI-Driven Hyperspectral Imaging for Agricultural and Ecosystem Applications
by Faizan Ali, Ali Razzaq, Waheed Tariq, Akhtar Hameed, Abdul Rehman, Khizar Razzaq, Sohaib Sarfraz, Nasir Ahmed Rajput, Haitham E. M. Zaki, Muhammad Shafiq Shahid and Gabrijel Ondrasek
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2260; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102260 - 30 Sep 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7527
Abstract
Ensuring global food security amid mounting challenges, such as population growth, disease infestations, resource limitations, and climate change, is a pressing concern. Anticipated increases in food demand add further complexity to this critical issue. Plant pathogens, responsible for substantial crop losses (up to [...] Read more.
Ensuring global food security amid mounting challenges, such as population growth, disease infestations, resource limitations, and climate change, is a pressing concern. Anticipated increases in food demand add further complexity to this critical issue. Plant pathogens, responsible for substantial crop losses (up to 41%) in major crops like wheat, rice, maize, soybean, and potato, exacerbate the situation. Timely disease detection is crucial, yet current practices often identify diseases at advanced stages, leading to severe infestations. To address this, remote sensing and Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) have emerged as robust and nondestructive techniques, exhibiting promising results in early disease identification. Integrating machine learning algorithms with image data sets enables precise spatial–temporal disease identification, facilitating timely detection, predictive modeling, and effective disease management without compromising fitness or climate adaptability. By harnessing these cutting-edge technologies and data-driven decision-making, growers can optimize input costs while achieving enhanced yields, making significant strides toward global food security in the face of climate change risks. This review will discuss some of the foundational concepts of remote sensing, several platforms used for remote sensing data collection, successful application of the approach, and its future perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Research on Soil Microbial Ecosystem and Its Interaction with Crop Plants)
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37 pages, 4412 KiB  
Review
Traditional Strategies and Cutting-Edge Technologies Used for Plant Disease Management: A Comprehensive Overview
by Hira Akhtar, Muhammad Usman, Rana Binyamin, Akhtar Hameed, Sarmad Frogh Arshad, Hafiz Muhammad Usman Aslam, Imran Ahmad Khan, Manzar Abbas, Haitham E. M. Zaki, Gabrijel Ondrasek and Muhammad Shafiq Shahid
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2175; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092175 - 23 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7210
Abstract
Agriculture plays a fundamental role in ensuring global food security, yet plant diseases remain a significant threat to crop production. Traditional methods to manage plant diseases have been extensively used, but they face significant drawbacks, such as environmental pollution, health risks and pathogen [...] Read more.
Agriculture plays a fundamental role in ensuring global food security, yet plant diseases remain a significant threat to crop production. Traditional methods to manage plant diseases have been extensively used, but they face significant drawbacks, such as environmental pollution, health risks and pathogen resistance. Similarly, biopesticides are eco-friendly, but are limited by their specificity and stability issues. This has led to the exploration of novel biotechnological approaches, such as the development of synthetic proteins, which aim to mitigate these drawbacks by offering more targeted and sustainable solutions. Similarly, recent advances in genome editing techniques—such as meganucleases (MegNs), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)—are precise approaches in disease management, but are limited by technical challenges and regulatory concerns. In this realm, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier that offers novel solutions for plant disease management. This review examines the role of nanoparticles (NPs), including organic NPs, inorganic NPs, polymeric NPs and carbon NPs, in enhancing disease resistance and improving pesticide delivery, and gives an overview of the current state of nanotechnology in managing plant diseases, including its advantages, practical applications and obstacles that must be overcome to fully harness its potential. By understanding these aspects, we can better appreciate the transformative impact of nanotechnology on modern agriculture and can develop sustainable and effective strategies to mitigate plant diseases, ensuring enhanced agricultural productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Research on Soil Microbial Ecosystem and Its Interaction with Crop Plants)
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