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Plants
Special Issues
Microbial Plant Biostimulants for Agricultural Sustainability: Progress and Challenges
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Microbial Plant Biostimulants for Agricultural Sustainability: Progress and Challenges

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 609

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sajad Ali

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Biological Sciences, King Fauisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
Interests: molecular plant–microbe interactions; plant stress biology and plant microbiome
Dr. Bilal Ahmed

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Interests: molecular plant–microbe interactions and plant stress biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are constantly challenged by an array of biotic and abiotic stressors, which significantly affect their growth, development and yield. In addition, they can also change soil physicochemical properties, which have a significant impact on plant growth and their survival. In field conditions, these stressors can occur either individually or in combination. As global climate change progresses, the frequency and intensity of these stressors have increased, which has further endangered plant survival as well as posing a serious threat to food security. Since expanding agricultural areas is unsustainable, the only way we can move forward is by harnessing sustainable approaches to improve crop growth and yield. One such approach is utilizing microbial or plant-based bio stimulants for improving agricultural productivity. This Special Issue will cover the role of microbial or plant-based bio stimulants for improving plant growth and stress resilience. Also, papers related to microbiome or plant engineering to improve the efficiency and stability of bio stimulants for sustainable crop improvement and mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses will be considered.

Dr. Sajad Ali
Dr. Bilal Ahmed
Guest Editors

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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • microbial biostimulants
  • biotic
  • abiotic
  • crop improvement
  • omics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1722 KiB  
Article
Rhizospheric Bacterial Distribution Influencing the Accumulation of Isoflavones, Phenolics, Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Activity in Soybean Roots Within Hydroponic System
by Du Yong Cho, Mu Yeun Jang, Hee Yul Lee, Jong Bin Jeong, Da Hyun Kim, Do Yun Bang, Hye Rim Kim, Ye Rim Jeong, Md. Azizul Haque, Jin Hwan Lee and Kye Man Cho
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2238; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142238 (registering DOI) - 19 Jul 2025
Abstract
This study investigates how root color in soybeans affects isoflavone composition, rhizosphere bacterial diversity, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity under a hydroponic cultivation system. Notably, soybean-brown roots (SBRs) accumulated significantly higher contents of isoflavones, exhibiting approximately a 14.9-fold increase in total [...] Read more.
This study investigates how root color in soybeans affects isoflavone composition, rhizosphere bacterial diversity, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity under a hydroponic cultivation system. Notably, soybean-brown roots (SBRs) accumulated significantly higher contents of isoflavones, exhibiting approximately a 14.9-fold increase in total glycosides (141.75 to 2121.59 µg/g), 7.3-fold increase in total malonyl-β-glycosides (127.52 to 930.45 µg/g), 2.8-fold increase in total aglycones (1825.90 to 5145.21 µg/g), and 3.9-fold increase in total isoflavones (2095.16 to 8197.26 µg/g) than soybean-white roots (SWRs). Isolated rhizosphere bacteria profiling revealed γ-Proteobacteria as the predominant class in both root types, constituting 77.6% and 73.9% of the bacterial community in SWRs and SBRs, respectively. However, SBRs supported a more diverse bacterial ecosystem, harboring thirteen genera compared to only eight genera in SWRs. Enhanced total phenolics, total flavonoids, and radical scavenging activity were also associated with the SBRs. These findings shed light on the dynamic interplay between root traits, bacterial interactions, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in hydroponically grown soybeans. This work not only advances our understanding of plant root–microbiome–metabolite relationships but also offers a novel approach to exploring the potential of enhancing secondary metabolites in soybean plants through precision cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Plant Biostimulants for Agricultural Sustainability: Progress and Challenges)
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27 pages, 3569 KiB  
Article
Impact of a Soil Cyanobacteria Consortium-Based Bioinoculant on Tomato Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality
by Zineb Hakkoum, Farah Minaoui, Zakaria Tazart, Amer Chabili, Mountasser Douma, Khadija Mouhri and Mohammed Loudiki
Plants 2025, 14(13), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14132034 - 2 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Cyanobacteria-based bioinoculants represent a sustainable solution for enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity. This research assessed the biofertilizing potential of two indigenous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria strains (Nostoc punctiforme Har. and Anabaena cylindrica Lemmerm.) on tomato growth and yield. A greenhouse experiment was conducted [...] Read more.
Cyanobacteria-based bioinoculants represent a sustainable solution for enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity. This research assessed the biofertilizing potential of two indigenous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria strains (Nostoc punctiforme Har. and Anabaena cylindrica Lemmerm.) on tomato growth and yield. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study their effects on soil properties, plant growth and physiology, and fruit yield/quality. The strains were applied individually, as a consortium, or combined with organic or mineral fertilizers at half the standard dose (50%). All bioinoculants improved soil fertility, plant growth, and fruit yield/quality compared to the control. The most significant improvement was observed in the consortium amended with 50% of conventional fertilizer (compost or NPK), compared with individual strains. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between photosynthetic pigments, plant productivity, and fruit biochemical traits, indicating coordinated physiological responses under the applied treatments. The results demonstrated that the consortium of diazotrophic terrestrial cyanobacteria possesses tomato biofertilizer properties that can be efficiently used in crop production. These findings suggest that such formulations offer a cost-effective approach to tomato cultivation and present a sustainable alternative for integrated and optimized fertilizer management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Plant Biostimulants for Agricultural Sustainability: Progress and Challenges)
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