Search Results (22)

The hard-seed coat of Ormosia henryi significantly impedes germination efficiency in massive propagation, while conventional physical dormancy-breaking methods often result in compromised seed vigor, asynchronous seedling emergence, and diminished stress tolerance. Seed biopriming, an innovative technique involving the inoculation of beneficial microorganisms onto seed surfaces or into germination substrates, enhances germination kinetics and emergence uniformity through microbial metabolic functions and synergistic interactions with seed exudates. Notably, spermosphere-derived functional bacteria isolated from native spermosphere soil demonstrate superior colonization capacity and sustained bioactivity. This investigation employed selective inoculation of these indigenous functional strains to systematically analyze dynamic changes in endogenous phytohormones, enzymatic activities, and storage substances during critical germination phases, thereby elucidating the physiological mechanisms underlying biopriming-enhanced germination. The experimental results demonstrated significant improvements in germination parameters through biopriming. Inoculation with the Bacillus sp. strain achieved a peak germination rate (76.19%), representing a 16.19% increase over the control (p < 0.05). The biopriming treatment effectively improved the seed vigor, broke the impermeability of the seed coat, accelerated the germination speed, and positively regulated physiological indicators, especially amylase activity and the ratio of gibberellic acid to abscisic acid. This study establishes a theoretical framework for microbial chemotaxis and rhizocompetence in seed priming applications while providing an eco-technological solution for overcoming germination constraints in O. henryi cultivation. The optimized biopriming protocol addresses both low germination rates and post-germination growth limitations, providing technical support for the seedling cultivation of O. henryi. Full article

In the past few years, non-native blue crab has been expanding its range in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. However, when non-indigenous species establish a lasting presence in a novel ecosystem and actively expand into other regions, posing potential risks to local biodiversity and economic harm, they are classified as invasive species. For this study, two different batches of blue crabs were collected: one from the Mediterranean Sea and the other from the Adriatic coast area. Considering the negative ecological impact that blue crab has had and continues to have on the Italian coasts, this work was aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the Adriatic Sea “variant”; another goal was to propose the potential use of blue crab as a commercially profitable source due to its organoleptic characteristics. Data obtained revealed a high protein content, a good lipid profile, a low number of plastic particles, and the absence of toxic metals and pathogenic microorganisms. A deep statistical analysis was conducted to compare different portions of blue crab from the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. The results suggest that Callinectes sapidus is beneficial for human consumption and represents a valuable seafood, and its carapace could be used as compliant feed for aquaculture due to its metal composition and microbiological content. Full article

Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) has severely restricted the development of the sunflower industry in China, and more efficient and convenient control methods are urgently needed. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of N, P and silica fertilizers on the parasitism rate of O. cumana, as well as on the yield of sunflower and native microbial communities in the field. Firstly, pot experiments were conducted to select the most effective fertilization method and to determine the physiological and biochemical indexes of sunflowers. Subsequently, field application studies were carried out to determine the physiological indexes, yield, O. cumana parasitism on sunflower, and the effect on the indigenous microbial community. The results demonstrate that compared with the CNP treatment (Control), the number of parasites under the N1P5 treatment significantly decreased by 66.15%. The exogenous application of silica can significantly reduce the number of O. cumana parasites. The treatments with N1P5 (N/P = 1:5) and available SiO₂ content higher than 40 mg/kg (NS2, NS3, SF2 and SF3) significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in sunflower leaves. In the field, fertilization significantly decreased the number of O. cumana parasites. The S treatment improved the native microbial community structure and enriched beneficial microorganisms, including Vicinamibacteria and Pyrinomonadaceae. Additionally, applying the S treatment significantly increased sunflower yield by 23.82% and crude protein content by 20.20%. In summary, the application of silicon fertilizer can effectively improve the host microbial community, reduce O. cumana parasitism and improve the yield and quality of sunflower. Full article

The health of soil is paramount for sustaining life, as it hosts diverse communities of microorganisms that interact with plants, influencing their growth, health, and resilience. Beneficial microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria, form symbiotic relationships with plants, providing essential nutrients, promoting growth, and enhancing stress tolerance. These microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria, play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, soil health, and plant productivity. Additionally, they help lessen reliance on chemical fertilizers, thereby mitigating the environmental risks associated with their use. Advances in agricultural practices harness the potential of these beneficial microorganisms to improve crop yields while minimizing the environmental impact. However, challenges such as competition with indigenous microbial strains and environmental factors limit the universal utilization of microbial inoculants. Despite these challenges, understanding and leveraging the interactions between plants and beneficial microorganisms hold promise for sustainable agriculture and enhanced food security. Full article

Soilless cultivation of potatoes often utilizes organic coconut peat and inorganic vermiculite as growing substrates. The unique microbial communities and physicochemical characteristics inherent to each substrate significantly influence the microecological environment crucial for potato growth and breeding. This study analyzed environmental factors within each substrate and employed Illumina sequencing alongside bioinformatics tools to examine microbial community structures, their correlation with environmental factors, core microbial functions, and the dynamics of microbial networks across various samples. These included pure coconut peat (CP1) and pure vermiculite (V1), substrates mixed with organic fertilizer for three days (CP2 and V2), and three combinations cultivated with potatoes for 50 days (CP3, V3, and CV3—a 1:1 mix of coconut peat and vermiculite with organic fertilizer). Vermiculite naturally hosts a more diverse microbial community. After mixing with fertilizer and composting for 3 days, and 50 days of potato cultivation, fungal diversity decreased in both substrates. Coconut peat maintains higher bacterial diversity and richness compared to vermiculite, harboring more beneficial bacteria and fungi, resulting in a more complex microbial network. However, vermiculite shows lower bacterial diversity and richness, with an accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms. Among the 11 environmental factors tested, water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), total nitrogen (TN), available potassium (AK), total organic carbon (TOC) and air-filled porosity (AFP) were significantly associated with microbial succession in the substrate.The nutritional type composition and interaction patterns of indigenous microorganisms differ between vermiculite and coconut peat. Adding abundant nutrients significantly affects the stability and interaction of the entire microbial community, even post-potato cultivation. When using vermiculite for soilless cultivation, precise control and adjustment of nutrient addition quantity and frequency are essential. Full article

Growing awareness of the environmental impact of intensive agriculture has prompted a quest for more sustainable approaches. The most promising alternatives include the application of organic waste products (OWPs), as well as biofertilizers containing local beneficial microorganisms (BMs) on cultivated soils. This study was designed to assess the effects of BMs on carbon and nitrogen mineralization of OWPs. A 28-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted at 28 °C with a soil, three OWPs (poultry litter (PL), cow dung (CD), and sewage sludge (SS)), and three BMs (groundnut + millet from Saint-Louis (LGM), groundnut from the southern groundnut basin (BG), and rice from the southern groundnut basin (BR) in Senegal), alone and combined. The results showed that the C mineralization from OWP + BM + soil mixtures exceeded (range 13–41%) those measured for OWP + soil. The BM input induced an increase or reduction in OWP nitrogen mineralization, depending on the type of BM and OWP. However, the net mineral nitrogen (Nmin) obtained with the PL-LGM and SS-BG combinations was 13.6- and 1.7-fold higher than with PL and SS, respectively, at 28 days. The addition of BM seemed to lead to a decrease in the C: N ratio, an improvement in the availability of nitrogen, and an increase in microbial activity in the OWP + BM + soil mixture. Our results generated new information on the variation patterns of OWP carbon and nitrogen in OWP-BM-soil systems. This novel insight will be developed to guide the most appropriate choice of OWP-BM mixtures for improved fertilization in sustainable production systems. Full article

The preservation of microbial diversity is an issue not properly addressed, considering their role in shaping Earth into a habitable planet and their contribution to human well-being. The disturbance of their natural habitats triggers responses, which are reflected in the modification of microecosystem composition and metabolic activities. This is also the case with food-related microecosystems; changes in the growing environment, recorded as agricultural practices and manufacturing or storage conditions, result in similar alterations in the residing microcommunity. In fact, the principle aim of food microbiology is to favor the growth of health-promoting microorganisms and restrict the development of the ones that may negatively affect the quality of food or even cause infection or intoxication. Therefore, the current perspective is one-sided, disregarding issues of general interest, such as the preservation of actual biodiversity. The aim of the present article is to present the current food microbiology perspective, which is based on the different roles of food-related microbiota and highlight the need to move from an anthropocentric to a microbe-centric perception. Full article

The persistence of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere or surrounding soil following their application is a prerequisite for the effective interaction with the plant or indigenous microbial communities in the respective habitats. The goal of the study was to analyze the establishment and persistence of the applied beneficial Trichoderma harzianum (OMG16) strain in the maize root-associated soil depending on agricultural practice (soil management practice, N-fertilizer intensity) in a field experiment. A rapid identification of the inoculated strain OMG16 is essential for its monitoring. We used a culture-based approach coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis for the rapid identification of the inoculated Trichoderma strain as part of the beneficial microbe consortium (BMc). We isolated 428 fungal isolates from eight treatments of the field experiment. Forty eight percent of the isolated fungi equivalent to 205 fungal isolates were identified as Trichoderma, of which 87% (=179 isolates) were obtained from the fields inoculated with BMc. Gene sequence analysis showed a high similarity of the MALDI-TOF MS-identified Trichoderma, with that of the inoculated Trichoderma harzianum OMG16 confirming the re-isolation of the added beneficial fungus. This study highlighted the use of MALDI-TOF MS analysis as a quick, cost-effective detection and efficient monitoring tool for microbial-based bioinoculants in the field. Full article

In accordance with Thai wisdom, indigenous plant leaves have been used as food packaging to preserve freshness. Many studies have demonstrated that both antioxidant and antimicrobial activities contribute to protecting food from spoilage. Hence, the ethanolic extracts of leaves from selected plants traditionally used as food packaging, including Nelumbo nucifera (1), Cocos nucifera (2), Nypa fruticans (3), Nepenthes mirabilis (4), Dendrocalamus asper (5), Cephalostachyum pergracile (6), Musa balbisiana (7), and Piper sarmentosum (8), were investigated to determine whether they have antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against spoilage microorganisms and foodborne pathogens that might be beneficial for food quality. Extracts 1–4 exhibited high phenolic content at 82.18–115.15 mg GAE/g and high antioxidant capacity on DPPH, FRAP and SRSA assay at 14.71–34.28 μg/mL, 342.92–551.38 μmol Fe²⁺/g, and 11.19–38.97 μg/mL, respectively, while leaf extracts 5–8 showed lower phenolic content at 34.43–50.08 mg GAE/g and lower antioxidant capacity on DPPH, FRAP, and SRSA at 46.70–142.16 μg/mL, 54.57–191.78 μmol Fe²⁺/g, and 69.05–>120 μg/mL, respectively. Extracts 1–4 possessed antimicrobial activities against food-relevant bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli. Only N. mirabilis extract (4) showed antimicrobial activities against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Abony and Candida albicans. Extracts 5–8 showed slight antimicrobial activities against B. cereus and E. coli. As the growth and activity of microorganisms are the main cause of food spoilage, N. fruticans (3) was selected for bioassay-guided isolation to obtain 3-O-caffeoyl shikimic acid (I), isoorientin (II) and isovitexin (III), which are responsible for its antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. N. fruticans was identified as a new source of natural antimicrobial compounds I–III, among which 3-O-caffeoyl shikimic acid was proven to show antimicrobial activity for the first time. These findings support the use of leaves for wrapping food and protecting food against oxidation and foodborne pathogens through their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, respectively. Thus, leaves could be used as a natural packaging material and natural preservative. Full article

Ecosystems are often resilient enough to fully recover following a natural disturbance, or to transform into a new equilibrium favourable to the surrounding flora and fauna. However, at a local level, whether this transformation will be beneficial or not depends strongly on the level of disturbance and the available mechanisms for recovery. The Arctic, however, provides a potentially extreme environment for microbial growth and this is reflected in the microbial biodiversity, the in-situ growth rates, the biogeochemical cycling and its sensitivity to environmental change. In this study, we evaluated the current microbial biodiversity and environmental conditions around the landfill site in Adventdalen, Svalbard to identify differences across bacterial communities that might promote or accelerate naturally occurring environmental recovery. Landfill sites can induce changes in the local environment through the input of exogenous chemicals (both organic and inorganic) and microorganisms. Leachate can flow with run-off from the primary location of the landfill site due to rain, snow or ice melt and spread material into soils surrounding the site. In this study we found a strong effect of the landfill site on the bacterial diversity in the local landscape. Intervention is highly desirable to enhance the environment and improve the restoration by subtly altering the conditions at the site (such as the pH or drainage courses) and by encouraging specific groups of naturally occurring indigenous microorganisms to bioremediate the site. Full article

Strawberry production is challenged by several abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought, soil salinity, and the angular leaf spot (ALS) disease caused by Xanthomonas fragariae. In recent decades, the development of commercial products containing combinations of different Plant-Growth-Promoting (PGP) microorganisms has been one of the main focuses of agricultural research. However, their results are often erratic depending on crop species, environmental conditions, and competition among the different strains or indigenous plant microbiota. The use of beneficial microorganisms selected from the crop-specific microbiota may help overcome this limitation, promoting their utilization for sustainable agriculture. The culturable bacteriota of strawberry plants was screened to identify PGP activities in vitro. Bacterial isolates were tested in vivo on strawberry plants in both optimal and stress (X. fragariae infection or salinity) conditions, allowing the selection of strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, and Agrobacterium rubi whose application showed a significant increase in plant growth and fruit production (up to seven-fold), even under stress conditions, and the ability to control ALS by over 50%. Potential synergistic effects among PGP isolates were tested by coordinated inoculation. However, plant growth and fruit quality were not promoted, except for fruit weight and size, by coordinate inoculation in comparison to m23 and m27 single-strain treatment. Full article

Maintenance of soil health is of foremost importance to sustain and increase crop productivity, while meeting the demand of a rising global population. Soil microbiome is gaining increasing attention as a modulator of soil health. Microbial communities confer traits to the soil as a living organism, which functions holistically and conforms part of the plant holobiont, reassembling the human-gut axis. Novel strategies in biostimulant development advocate for modulation of the native soil microbiome and the reinforcement of microbial networking to outpace pathogen inclusion. Consequently, we hypothesize that Terramin^® Pro may promotes beneficial microorganisms, depending on the native microbiota of soil, which would lead to an improvement of crop performance indicators. We proposed a soil microbiome-based approach to characterize the effect of an L-$\alpha$-amino acid based biostimulant (Terramin^® Pro) on resulting plant phenotypes in lettuce cultivars (Lactuca sativa L.) to address our hypothesis. First, product application promoted Actinobacteria group in assorted soils with different track of agronomic practices. Secondly, biostimulant application improved chlorophyll content in particular soils deviating from standard conditions, i.e., sick or uncultivated ones. Specially, we observed that product application at 30 L ha${}^{-1}$ improved lettuce phenotype, while potentially promoted entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria and Metarhizium spp.) and suppressed other lettuce disease-related fungi (Olpidium spp.) in nematode-infested soils. Further investigations could deepen into Terramin^® Pro as a sustainable prebiotic strategy of soil indigenous microbiota, through in-house microbiome modulation, even in additional crops. Full article

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains a diverse mixture of commensal and pathogenic microbes, forming the gut microbiome. These gut microbes and their potential to improve human health are a topic of great interest to the scientific community. Many intestinal and age-related complications are linked to dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, often associated with a weakened immune system. A decrease in beneficial microbes, generally, along with decreased microbial diversity in the gut, can, in many cases, result in disease, particularly in older individuals. Probiotics, which are ingestible beneficial microorganisms, have the potential to positively modulate the indigenous gut microbiota. There are two predominant and conventional classes of lactic acid bacterial probiotics, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which have been confirmed for their health benefits and role in preventing certain gut-related disorders. The proper use of probiotics and/or supplements, along with a consistently healthy lifestyle, is a promising holistic approach to maintaining or improving gut health and minimizing other age-linked disorders. There are many properties that bacterial probiotics possess, which may allow for these beneficial effects in the gut. For instance, probiotics have adhesion capacities (capability to stay in GI tract) that are effective in excluding pathogens, while other probiotics have the potential to stimulate or modulate the intestinal immune system by regulating genes that reside within and outside of the gut environment. This review discussed the possible underlying mechanics of probiotics, evidence of probiotic-based mitigation of age-related disease, and the role of probiotics in modulating gut health and, in turn, maintaining brain health. Full article

Indigenous microbial enhanced oil recovery technology by selective nutrient injection is a potential alternative that leads to oil production improvement in low-permeability oil reservoirs. Nutrient flooding in oil reservoirs can shift the balance of microorganisms within a population; an in-depth exploration of this phenomenon can enable us to selectively activate particularly beneficial microbial species for enhancing oil recovery. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyse indigenous microorganisms (e.g., archaea and bacteria) in an oil production well (W226), compared to a control well (W202), in the Xingzichuan Oil Recovery Plant (Ansai, Shaanxi, China). According to alpha diversity analysis and community composition, the nutrient injection exhibited a significant impact on indigenous archaea at the genus level. The predominant archaeal genus Methanolobus (more than 66%) in the control well shifted to Methanocalculus (50.8%) and Methanothermococcus (30.6%) genera in the oil production well. Conversely, the activators increased bacterial community richness but reduced its evenness. Bacterial community analysis at the genus level revealed that nutrient injections significantly increased specific populations with the potential to emulsify, lower interfacial tension, and lower oil viscosity, including the genera Arcobacter, Halomonas, and Thalassolituus. At the same time, some microbial species that are harmful for the oil recovery process (e.g., the sulphate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrus, Desulfocurvus, Desulfocarbo, and Desulfoglaeba), were inhibited. In conclusion, nutrient flooding reduced the abundance of harmful microorganisms and increased beneficial functional microbial populations linked to beneficial functions, contributing to the enhancement of oil recovery in low-permeability oil reservoirs. Full article

This paper’s working hypothesis is that the indigenous farming practices of Timorese farmers are those most suitable and adaptable with regard to these farmers’ circumstances. Intensive farming and the acceleration of land conversion in Java lead to a reduction in favorable cropland and the degradation of soil biology. To meet the demand for food production, unfavorable areas outside Java, including marginal semi-arid areas on Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara province, have become an important option. Unfortunately, the national crop production policy has paid less attention to the specific biophysical characteristics of the region and how local people have adapted to the diverse marginal environment. We review the literature in the areas of soil nutrition retention and soil biology, vegetation/crop diversity, and farming practices/management, including local wisdom on soil management. This paper highlights that the values of the chemical parameters of the soils in question are varied, but generally range from low to high. The existence of beneficial micro-organisms is important both for improving soil fertility and due to their association with local vegetation/crops. Traditional farming practices, such as the local agroforestry of Mamar, have effectively preserved the existence of micro-organisms that promote conservation practices, crop/vegetation diversity, and sustainable agriculture. We recommend that the expansion of croplands and crop production into marginal semi-arid areas needs to be considered and adapted while taking into consideration sustainability and environmentally sound traditional practices. Full article