Benefits of Innovative Microbial Biosolutions to Sustain Crop Health

Dear Colleagues,

The use of biosolutions—i.e., biofertilizers, biostimulants, and biocontrols—constitutes a promising approach aimed at reducing the use of synthetic products and developing sustainable farming systems that are more respectful of the environment. Among these solutions, harnessing the potential of microorganisms to promote plant growth and health is a key area of interest in developing relevant bio-inoculants. Indeed, microorganisms present numerous interesting abilities contributing to the establishment of beneficial plant–microbe interaction and, therefore, sustaining crop development. However, field deployment of such microbial biosolutions is often challenging. To ensure and promote the effective transfer and success of biosolutions in agriculture, several research areas are still needed. The development of bio-inoculants needs to rely on reliable methods for the screening of promising microbial candidates and the characterization of their potential. Determination of the modifications induced on the entire soil–plant system following microbial inoculation is crucial to better understanding and disentangle all mechanisms of action. It is also important to explore the factors influencing the efficiency of these microbial inoculants in order to maximize their action, particularly to possibly act on their formulation and/or highlight optimal conditions of use.

This Special Issue will focus on the role of microbe-based biosolutions to directly or indirectly promote crop development and plant health. Innovation solutions based on microbiome engineering, alone or in consortium, native or artificially introduced, are all within the scope of this Special Issue. Original research articles and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Mélanie Bressan
Dr. Isabelle Trinsoutrot-Gattin
Guest Editors

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• biocontrol
• biostimulant
• biofertilizer
• microbial agent
• PGPR
• PSM
• plant health
• soil health
• plant nutrition
• abiotic stress
• plant disease