Search Results (63)

Coffee pulp, the primary residue generated during the wet processing of Coffea arabica L., is frequently applied directly to fields as a crude soil amendment. However, this practice often lacks proper microbial stabilization, limiting its agronomic potential and posing risks due to the presence of phytotoxic compounds. In Colombia, disease-resistant varieties such as Coffea arabica L. var. Castillo and var. Cenicafé 1, developed by the National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé), are the amongst the most widely cultivated varieties in the country; however, despite their widespread adoption, the microbial ecology of postharvest residues from these varieties remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to isolate and functionally characterize native microbial communities from the pulp of Coffea arabica var. Castillo and var. Cenicafé 1, and to evaluate their role in postharvest processing and organic waste management. Fresh pulp samples were collected from a wet-processing facility located in tropical mid-elevation zones. A total of 53 microbial isolates were recovered using culture-dependent techniques on selective media targeting yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and filamentous fungi. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) and ITS1 region was conducted to profile bacterial and fungal communities, revealing diverse microbial consortia dominated by Aspergillus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pichia, and Saccharomyces species. Enzymatic screening indicated high pectinolytic and cellulolytic activity. Composting trials using inoculated pulp showed a ~40% reduction in composting time and improved nutrient content. These findings support the use of native microbiota to enhance composting efficiency and postharvest valorization, contributing to more sustainable and circular coffee systems. Full article

Enhancing crop productivity through biological strategies is critical for agriculture, particularly under conventional farming systems heavily reliant on chemical inputs. Plant probiotic bacteria offer promising alternatives by promoting plant growth and yield. This is the first field study to assess the effects of biofertilization with native rhizobial strains Rhizobium sp. ACO-34A, Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG-R7^T, and S. chiapasense ITTG-S70^T on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) cultivated under conventional farming conditions. Key parameters assessed include plant performance (plant height, plant stem width, plant dry weight, and chlorophyll content), fruit yield (fruits per plant, fruit height, fruit width, fruit weight, and estimated fruit volume), and macronutrient and micronutrient contents in plant tissue. Additionally, rhizospere bacterial communities were characterized through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to evaluate alpha and beta diversity. Inoculation with ITTG-R7^T significantly improved plant height, stem width, and plant dry weight, while ITTG-S70^T enhanced stem width and chlorophyll content. ACO-34A inoculation notably increased fruit number, size, and yield parameters. Moreover, inoculated plants exhibited reduced Fe and Cu accumulation compared to non-inoculated controls. Metagenomic analyses indicated that rhizobial inoculation did not significantly disrupt the native rhizosphere bacterial community. These findings highlight the potential of rhizobial strains as effective plant probiotics that enhance tomato productivity while preserving microbial community structure, supporting the integration of microbial biofertilizers into conventional farming systems. Full article

The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamic changes in nutritional components, fermentation parameters, and microbial communities of mulberry leaves during silage fermentation with exogenous and epiphytic Pediococcus pentosaceus (P. pentosaceus). P. pentosaceus P (Pp) and P. pentosaceus M (Pm), isolated from the epiphytic microbiota of paper mulberry and mulberry leaves, respectively, were used as fermentation inoculants (OD₆₀₀ = 0.6). Fresh mulberry leaves were treated with the inoculants at 1% (mL/g) of leaf weight and ensiled for 60 days. Three groups were established: T1 (exogenous Pp), T2 (epiphytic Pm), and CK (control, sterile water). Samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, 30, and 60 to analyze chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, and bacterial communities. Redundancy analysis was conducted to explore relationships between fermentation characteristics and bacterial communities. The results showed that T2 had significantly higher dry matter content from day 30 (p < 0.05) and lower neutral detergent fiber content from day 3 (p < 0.05) compared to T1. Additionally, T2 exhibited faster water-soluble carbohydrate consumption and more rapid pH decline during the early fermentation phase (days 1–7). Lactic acid (LA) content in T2 was significantly higher during days 1–7 (p < 0.05), while acetic acid (AA) content was significantly lower from day 3 (p < 0.05). T2 consistently showed higher crude protein and lower ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) levels than T1 throughout fermentation. Microbial analysis revealed higher abundance of Firmicutes in T2 during days 1–15 and greater relative abundance of Pediococcus from day 1 to 30. Kosakonia was more abundant in T2, whereas Escherichia-Shigella was less abundant. During days 3–15, bacterial communities in T1 and T2 correlated positively with LA, with stronger effects in T2, driven by Pediococcus. In the later stages (days 30 and 60), bacterial communities were influenced by AA, NH₃-N, and propionic acid, with Enterobacter, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus as key contributors. This study demonstrates that supplementing epiphytic P. pentosaceus improves fermentation efficiency and nutritional quality of mulberry leaf silage compared to exogenous P. pentosaceus. Full article

Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis), a leguminous plant, is an important medicinal and economic plant in saline–alkaline soils of arid regions in China. Its main bioactive components include liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, and flavonoids, which play significant roles in maintaining human health and preventing and adjuvantly treating related diseases. However, the cultivation of G. uralensis is easily restricted by adverse soil conditions in these regions, characterized by high salinity, high alkalinity, and nutrient deficiency. This study investigated the impacts of four multistrain microbial inoculants (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd) on the growth performance and bioactive compound accumulation of G. uralensis in moderately saline–sodic soil. The aim was to screen the most beneficial inoculant from these strains, which were isolated from the rhizosphere of plants in moderately saline–alkaline soils of the Hexi Corridor and possess native advantages with excellent adaptability to arid environments. The results showed that inoculant Pc, comprising Pseudomonas silesiensis, Arthrobacter sp. GCG3, and Rhizobium sp. DG1, exhibited superior performance: it induced a 0.86-unit reduction in lateral root number relative to the control, while promoting significant increases in single-plant dry weight (101.70%), single-plant liquiritin (177.93%), single-plant glycyrrhizic acid (106.10%), and single-plant total flavonoids (107.64%). Application of the composite microbial inoculant Pc induced no significant changes in the pH and soluble salt content of G. uralensis rhizospheric soils. However, it promoted root utilization of soil organic matter and nitrate, while significantly increasing the contents of available potassium and available phosphorus in the rhizosphere. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Pc reorganized the rhizospheric microbial communities of G. uralensis, inducing pronounced shifts in the relative abundances of rhizospheric bacteria and fungi, leading to significant enrichment of target bacterial genera (Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium), concomitant suppression of pathogenic fungi, and proliferation of beneficial fungi (Mortierella, Cladosporium). Correlation analyses showed that these microbial shifts were linked to improved plant nutrition and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This study highlights Pc as a sustainable strategy to enhance G. uralensis yield and medicinal quality in saline–alkali ecosystems by mediating microbe–plant–nutrient interactions. Full article

Cordyceps takaomontana is a medicinal fungus with significant pharmacological value, but how soil microbes promote its growth remains unclear. We established a solid-state co-culture system involving C. takaomontana synnemata and its native soil fungi of Fusarium paeoniae and Bjerkandera minispora. Both F. paeoniae and B. minispora significantly promoted synnematal growth and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Total triterpenoid content increased substantially. F. paeoniae markedly elevated levels of ergosterol peroxide, whereas B. minispora boosted accumulation of L-arabinose, ergotamine, and euphol. Metabolomics revealed that both fungi activated key metabolic pathways (including ABC transporters, mineral absorption, and protein digestion/absorption). F. paeoniae uniquely upregulated phenylalanine metabolism. This work elucidates the metabolic mechanisms underlying growth promotion of C. takaomontana mediated by F. paeoniae and B. minispora as well as deciphers potential pharmacologically active metabolites. These findings provide a foundation for strategically improving artificial cultivation and developing functional microbial inoculants. Full article

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

This study aims to identify the optimal conditions—host, plant material, seasonality, and agricultural practices—for isolating and developing a collection of culturable endophytic microorganisms to support sustainable Olea europaea L. cultivation. Samples were collected from three Sicilian olive cultivars (‘Nocellara del Belice’, ‘Nocellara Etnea’, and ‘Nocellara Messinese’) and six wild olive accessions across different phenological phases and under organic and conventional agronomic management. Endophytes were isolated from leaves and twigs using a culture-dependent approach, and their taxonomic diversity and plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits were analyzed. A total of 133 endophytic isolates were identified, spanning bacterial (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria) and fungal (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) phyla. Wild olive trees contributed more than cultivated varieties to enriching the diversity and composition of culturable endophyte collection as well as twigs instead of leaves. Winter sampling allowed to implement the taxonomic genera of olive endophyte collection. Both farming systems favored an increase in the composition of microbial collection, though organic farming systems supported greater microbial richness. Functional analysis highlighted key PGP traits in a selection of bacterial isolates, including indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and antifungal activity. Bacillus spp. dominated enzymatic activities, such as amylase, protease, and lipase production, as well as antifungal activity against the olive fungal pathogen Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme. This research highlights the significant diversity and functional potential of Mediterranean olive endophytes. Our findings emphasize the role of native microbial communities as bio-inoculants, promoting plant growth, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance. These insights lay the groundwork for developing targeted olive-microbial consortia for biocontrol and stress tolerance applications. Full article

Rhizospheric fungi are emerging as a critical research component in dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) production systems. Introducing beneficial non-native fungi is increasingly common due to their positive effects on plant growth, yield, and pathogen suppression. However, this practice may disrupt soil microbial communities, and commercial isolates often show limited adaptation to local conditions. This study aimed to identify native beneficial soil fungi associated with dragon fruit cultivation on the Ecuadorian coast and evaluate their effect on commercial production. Fungal isolates from four dragon fruit plantations were identified using microscopy and genetic sequencing (ITS, EF-1α, and beta-tubulin). The selected fungi were isolates closely related to Talaromyces tumuli, Trichoderma asperellum, and Paecilomyces lagunculariae. All isolates were tested for pathogenicity using detached cladode assays at the laboratory, and non-phytopathogenic monomorphic cultures were further evaluated in the field under a randomized complete block design consisting of T. asperellum, Talaromyces tumuli, a combination of both, and a water control. The combination of T. asperellum and Talaromyces spp. showed a favorable trend in terms of the plants’ vegetative development. However, inoculating Talaromyces tumuli into the commercial plants exhibited a slow response during the first 20 days of the field evaluations. Still, it resulted in a significant increase in the fruit’s diameter and weight, with increases of 88.23% and 67.64%, respectively, compared to those in the control. T. asperellum presented a lower number of fruits per plant, although it showed an increase in fruit diameter and weight. In conclusion, using the native beneficial fungi T. asperellum and T. tumuli contributes positively to the dragon fruit production system. Full article

Microbial transplantation represents a sustainable strategy to address productivity gaps in agricultural soils by transferring microbiomes that enhance nutrient cycling, pathogen suppression, and stress tolerance. This study evaluates whether probiotic consortia from high-yield soybean soils (donor soil) could improve crop performance in less productive fields (recipient soil). We developed a host-adapted inoculant from soybean rhizospheres grown in donor soil and applied it to seeds at five concentrations (0.25–10 g/kg seed) in recipient soil, with untreated controls for comparison. To assess crop-specific microbial recruitment, we prepared a parallel bean-derived inoculant under identical conditions. Through 16S rRNA sequencing and growth/yield analysis, we found the following: (1) Distinct bacteriome assemblies between soybean- and bean-derived inoculants, confirming host specificity; (2) Successful enrichment of beneficial taxa (Enterobacteriaceae increased by 15–22%, Rhizobiaceae by 7–12%) despite native community resilience; and (3) Consistent yield improvement trends (4.8–6.2%), demonstrating potential to bridge productivity gaps. These results show that transplanted microbiomes can effectively modulate rhizosphere communities while maintaining ecological balance. This work establishes a scalable approach to address soil productivity limitations through microbiome transplantation. Future research should optimize (a) inoculant composition for specific productivity gaps; (b) delivery systems; and (c) compatibility with resident microbiomes, particularly in systems where niche-specific processes govern microbial establishment. Full article

Forest plantations in the Neotropics aim to alleviate pressure on primary forests. This study synthesizes knowledge on pine species used in these plantations, emphasizing the challenges and potential of ectomycorrhizal fungi and bacteria as inoculants. An analysis of 98 articles identifies 23 pine species in Mexico and Central America and about 16 fast-growing species in South America. While pine plantations provide a habitat for generalist species, they reduce the richness of specialist species. Ectomycorrhizal fungi and bacterial diversity in plantations with introduced pines is up to 20% lower compared to native ecosystems. Suillus and Hebeloma are commonly used as mycorrhizal inoculants for Neotropical and introduced species, including Pinus ponderosa and Pinus radiata in South America. Commercial inoculants predominantly feature the fungal species Pisolithus tinctorius, alongside bacterial genera such as Bacillus, Cohnella, and Pseudomonas. This study emphasizes the importance of leveraging native microbial communities and their synergistic interactions with ECM fungi and bacteria to enhance seedling growth and quality. Such a combined approach can improve plantation survival, boost resilience to environmental stressors, and promote long-term productivity. These findings underscore the need to incorporate native fungi and bacteria into inoculant strategies, advancing sustainable forestry practices and ecosystem adaptation in the Neotropics. Full article

Pleurotus tuoliensis is a valuable edible mushroom native to Xinjiang in northwest China. It colonizes the roots and stems of Ferula plants. Field inoculation in its natural habitat has been shown to significantly enhance the colonization rate of P. tuoliensis hyphae in Ferula plants. However, the effects of field inoculation on P. tuoliensis hyphal colonization, soil properties, and microbial communities remain underexplored. In this study, we examined the characteristics of rhizosphere soil and microbial communities under four conditions: natural environments with and without hyphal colonization, and field inoculation with and without colonization. High-throughput sequencing results revealed that field inoculation markedly increased the relative abundance of Pleurotus species (57.98%) compared to natural colonization (14.11%). However, field inoculation also resulted in a reduction in microbial community diversity compared to hyphal colonization. Concurrently, the relative abundance of Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, and Bacillota significantly increased following field inoculation. LEfSe analysis suggested that the identified potential biomarkers were most likely associated with the Bacillus genus within Bacillota. Furthermore, mushroom growth-promoting bacteria were successfully isolated and identified as members of the Bacillus cereus group (L5) and Bacillus safensis (S16). This finding suggests that field inoculation with P. tuoliensis in its natural habitat promotes microbial communities that enhance its growth. This study offers new insights into conserving wild edible fungi and their interactions with soil microbiota. Full article

Increasing soil salinity is threatening agricultural productivity which implies the development of new sustainable strategies to deal with this challenge. The main objective here is to assess the potential for improving the tolerance of alfalfa to salinity by combining inoculations with rhizobia and AMF. However, the distinguishing feature of this study is the comparison of two alfalfa varieties’ microbial response to salinity. The greenhouse trial was conducted on an Australian variety Siriver and an indigenous Demnate population, which were inoculated with Rhizoglomus irregulare and/or native AMF, and/or a RhOL1 rhizobial strain. The RhOL1 strain was selected from nine rhizobia tested for their plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) activities. In addition to its ability to tolerate high salinity levels (769 mM) and solubilize insoluble phosphate as well as potassium, it can also synthesize auxins such as IAA. The application of these biofertilizers was carried out in the absence and the presence of the saline stress (0 and 120 mM NaCl). The double inoculations of native AMF and RhOL1 significantly improve the shoot and root dry biomass, plant elongation, number of formed leaves, and mineral nutrition, as well as the number of nodules and the rate of mycorrhizal root colonization. The synergistic effects between the native AMF and RhOL1 strain have been demonstrated in this study. However, the behavior of alfalfa genotypes towards microbial inoculation was significantly different. The ability to react to the double indigenous RhOL1 + AMF inoculation is more important in the Siriver than in the Demnate population. Thus, the possibility of formulating biofertilizers is based on the AMF–rhizobia–hote tripartite combination for alfalfa production in saline areas. Full article

A typical Mashrabiya in Islamic architecture represents an integral climatic and sustainable solution, not only by offering recycling and the responsible use of small pieces of wood assembled in stunning geometrical and natural abstract lattice panels, but also because it offers air cooling, filtration, and flow from the exterior to the interior of a building. This leads to the air flow being cooled by the water spray offered by the interior patio fountains, in addition to protecting the sanctity and privacy of a building’s inhabitants, which complies with religious beliefs and social considerations. This integral sustainable solution acts on multiple scales: material recycling and responsible use, as well as climatic and socio-cultural considerations similar to Gaudi’s approach with Trencadís technology, not far from the Arabic and Islamic architectural influence revived in the Catalan Modernism contemporary to his time. In these footsteps, we explore the Mashrabiya of our time: an interactive and living architectural membrane, a soft interface that reacts by growing, giving shade, filtrating air, and transforming in time. Despite attempts to design a contemporary concept of the Mashrabiya, none of them have adopted the living organism to form an interactive living lattice architectural system. In this work, we propose the biodigital micro-cellular Mashrabiya as a novel idea and a proof of concept based on employing the authors’ previously published research findings to utilize eco-friendly biopolymers inoculated with useful native–domestic microbial strains to act as soft and living membranes, where these organisms grow and vary in their chemical and physical characteristics, sustainable function, and industrial value. This study implements an analytical–descriptive methodology to analyze the key characteristics of a traditional Mashrabiya as an integral sustainable solution and how the proposed micro-cellular biodigital Mashrabiya system can fulfill these criteria to be integrated into the built environment, forging future research trajectories on the bio-/micro-environmental compatibility of this biomaterial-based biodigital Mashrabiya system by understanding these materials’ physical, chemical, and physiological traits and their sustainable value. In this work, a biodigital Mashrabiya is proposed based on employing previous research findings on experimentally analyzed biomaterials from a biomineralized calcium-phosphate-based hydrogel and bio-welded seashell–mycelium biocomposite in forging the lattice system of a biodigital Mashrabiya, analyzing the feasibility and sustainability impact of these systems for integration into the architectural built environment. Full article

Microbial communities in the plant environment are highly dynamic, with bacterial populations rapidly responding to changes. Numerous studies have examined how both inherent plant characteristics and environmental factors shape plant-associated microbiota. These factors determine which bacterial communities thrive and how they interact with plants; certain conditions favor beneficial bacteria, and others support pathogens. In this mini-review, we focus on an additional factor influencing plant microbiomes and their surrounding environments: the use of biocontrol agents. The increasing application of microbial inoculants and their metabolites as biocontrol strategies in agriculture has created a critical knowledge gap about the effects of introducing non-native bacterial species into natural plant ecosystems. The inoculation of plants and their environments with exogenous biocontrol microorganisms has the potential to alter microbial community diversity and composition, presenting both opportunities and challenges for sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

In the Yaqui Valley, Mexico, the current and estimated annual growth rate of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) yield is insufficient to satisfy the food demand that the world will be facing by 2050. Furthermore, besides the high doses of fertilizers applied to wheat in this region, nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) remains low (<34.4%). A sustainable strategy to reduce the use of fertilizers and to increase crop yield and quality is the use of native plant growth-promoting bacteria as microbial inoculants. This study was performed under field conditions during one agricultural season in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico. It aimed to quantify the impact of the inoculation of a native bacterial consortium (BC) composed of Bacillus cabrialesii subsp. cabrialesii TE3^T, Priestia megaterium TRQ8, and Bacillus paralicheniformis TRQ65 on grain yield, grain quality, and NUE (measured through ¹⁵N-isotopic techniques) at different stages of development of durum wheat variety CIRNO C2008 under three doses of urea (0, 120, and 240 kg N ha⁻¹) fractionated at 30%, 60%, and 10%. Results showed that yield, quality, and NUE were highly affected by the N doses, while the inoculation of the BC had a lower impact on these parameters. Nevertheless, the inoculation of the BC on wheat had positive effects at the early stages of growth, on plant height (+1.6 cm), root depth (+11.9 cm), and spikes per square meter (+25 spikes m⁻²). Moreover, the addition of the BC improved N acquisition by the plants, at different crop growth stages, compared to uninoculated treatments. Finally, our results indicated that reducing the N dose from 240 kg of N ha⁻¹ to 120 kg of N ha⁻¹ improved the NUE (27.5% vs. 44.3%, respectively) of the crop. Hence, results of this preliminary study showed that the incorporation of bacterial inoculants into the wheat crop requires a simultaneous adequate N management, in order to obtain the desired positive effect on wheat productivity. Full article