Microorganisms for Improving Plant Resilience and Soil Health

Dear Colleagues,

The transition toward more sustainable agricultural systems requires innovative strategies to reduce chemical dependence while maintaining productivity and plant health. One major approach involves decreasing the chemical load associated with conventional agrochemical applications through the development of environmentally friendly bioproducts. These include microbial inoculants, organic formulations and bioactive compounds derived from renewable resources. Their implementation supports a progressive reduction in synthetic inputs while improving soil functionality and plant resilience.

Promoting the production and adoption of beneficial microorganisms also represents a strategic opportunity for strengthening regional productive sectors, stimulating local innovation, and enhancing circular-economy systems. Agricultural and forestry residues are valuable raw materials from which high-value compounds can be extracted, helping transform waste into commercial inputs, reduce environmental liabilities and generate added economic value.

A fundamental component of this strategy lies in the optimization of plant–soil microbiomes. Harnessing beneficial microorganisms—such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microbes, biocontrol fungi, and endophytes—can improve nutrient acquisition, enhance plant immunity and increase tolerance to abiotic stress, including extreme temperatures, limited water availability and soil-borne contaminants. Understanding key microbiome–plant interactions enables targeted bioformulations that support healthier and more resilient agroecosystems.

Additionally, the study of natural compounds present in agricultural and forestry residues offers novel avenues for sustainable crop enhancement. Characterizing the chemistry of lignocellulosic components, phenolic derivatives and other bioactive molecules provides insight into their roles in oxidative protection, osmotic adjustment or signaling pathways involved in stress mitigation.

Overall, these approaches converge toward a new generation of sustainable agricultural technologies that integrate microbiology, natural-compound chemistry and circular-economy principles, leading to enhanced crop performance and reduced environmental impact.

Prof. Dr. Mauricio Schoebitz
Guest Editor

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