Search Results (205)

Plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures are increasingly used as controlled platforms for producing pharmaceutically important specialized metabolites. Their productivity can be improved through elicitors, plant biostimulant-like substances, microbial inputs, and nano-enabled delivery systems. However, the regulatory interpretation of these inputs is not determined only by their biological mechanism. It also depends on product composition, formulation, intended use, exposure scenario, and label claim. This review analyzes how elicitors, plant biostimulants, biofertilizer- and bioinput-related concepts, and nano-enabled inputs are positioned within selected regulatory frameworks in the European Union, United States, Canada, Brazil, India, China, and Mexico. The analysis shows that current frameworks increasingly emphasize product identity, efficacy substantiation, safety evidence, and labeling, but they remain fragmented for multifunctional materials that may simultaneously affect nutrient-related processes, abiotic stress tolerance, defense signaling, growth regulation, and specialized metabolism. Nano-enabled and encapsulated formulations create additional challenges because they can modify uptake, persistence, bioavailability, release behavior, residue profiles, and non-target exposure compared with conventional formulations. A clearer distinction is therefore needed between contained biotechnological use in plant biofactories and open-environment agricultural applications. Future regulatory development should move toward formulation-level assessment, claim-specific evidence, nanospecific characterization, traceability, and harmonized terminology to support innovation while ensuring safety, reproducibility, and regulatory clarity. Full article

Background: The urgent need for sustainable agricultural drives the search for effective microbial biostimulants. Cyanobacteria of the order Nostocales are promising candidates due to their nitrogen-fixing capabilities and bioactive secondary metabolites. However, the genomic potential of many soil strains from microorganism collection remains largely unexplored. Methods: We performed a targeted genomic screening of five cyanobacterial strains from the All-Russian Collection of Microorganisms (VKM): Nostoc commune VKM Al-35, Nostoc punctiforme VKM Al-37, Nostoc minutum VKM Al-168, Anabaena pirinica VKM Al-153, and Hassallia pseudoramosissima VKM Al-158. The workflow involved WGS, de novo assembly, and comparative metabolic profiling using KEGG, SEED, PLaBAse, antiSMASH, and RhizoSMASH to identify predicted plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), and rhizosphere competence mechanisms. Biosafety was evaluated via Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) and in silico toxomics screening. Results: High-quality genome assemblies were obtained for all strains (completeness > 99%). Functional annotation uncovered complete genetic machinery for nitrogen fixation, predicted phosphate mobilization, and phytohormone biosynthesis pathways. Comparative analysis revealed two distinct genomic strategies: a versatile support profile in Nostoc strains (expanded genomes and diverse accessory pathways) and a specialized stimulation profile in Anabaena and Hassallia strains (focused phytohormone pathways). Comprehensive CARD and antiSMASH screenings demonstrated an excellent biosafety profile, confirming the complete absence of regulated cyanotoxin clusters or acquired antibiotic resistance genes of clinical concern. Conclusions: This genome-based bioprospecting serves as a cost-effective pre-selection filter, providing a strong scientific rationale for downstream experimental validation of these strains. The presence of predicted gibberellin biosynthesis pathways and T6SS/T4SS secretion systems in H. pseudoramosissima VKM Al-158 represents a notable genomic feature among soil cyanobacteria. The identified genomic prerequisites suggest that these strains possess strong predictive potential for future development as safe biological resources for sustainable agriculture. Full article

The transition toward sustainable agriculture has driven the use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms as viable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals. Among these, species of the genus Trichoderma have emerged as pivotal players due to their ability to establish beneficial and complex interactions with plants that extend far beyond their traditional role as biocontrol agents. This review integrates recent advances in understanding the mechanisms by which Trichoderma promotes plant growth and development. Specifically, the evolutionary transition of Trichoderma from a mycoparasitic lifestyle to beneficial plant associations is examined, together with the molecular processes involved in plant recognition, root colonization, and establishment within the rhizosphere and plant tissues. Furthermore, the mechanisms through which Trichoderma enhances plant performance are addressed, including metabolite production (both volatile and non-volatile), phytohormone modulation, nutrient acquisition and mobilization, and enhanced photosynthetic capacity. Finally, current agricultural applications, the technical challenges of formulation and field implementation, and future perspectives on Trichoderma-based microbial consortia and precision agriculture tools are analyzed. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive framework highlighting the potential of Trichoderma as a premier biostimulant for modern sustainable farming. Full article

The Rosaceae family includes some of the most economically important fruit and nut crops worldwide, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds. Increasing market demand and climate constraints have intensified reliance on synthetic fertilizers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced ecosystem resilience. In response, sustainable alternatives, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, have gained increasing attention. Here, we review recent findings in the application of these ecofriendly inputs in Rosaceae crops, using almonds (Prunus dulcis) as a representative case study. We highlight the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving nutrient availability, stress tolerance, soil fertility, and crop productivity through mechanisms including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, phytohormone modulation, and enhanced plant defense responses. Evidence from field, greenhouse, and controlled experimental studies has indicated that rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, as well as organic fertilizers, enhance nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, fruit yields, and quality while supporting soil biodiversity and long-term orchard sustainability. Despite their demonstrated benefits, the adoption of biofertilizers and biostimulants in almond orchards remains limited. This review discusses the current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for integrating microbial-based solutions into sustainable Rosaceae cultivation systems. Full article

Sustaining maize–cereal production under intensive agricultural systems is becoming increasingly challenging because of declining soil quality, low nutrient-use efficiency, and escalating abiotic and biotic stresses. In many regions, long-term rice–wheat cultivation has intensified these constraints, prompting greater interest in diversified production systems such as maize–wheat rotations. Within this context, bio-organic fertilizers (BOF) and microbial biostimulants are increasingly recognized not merely as nutrient inputs but as biologically active regulators of plant–soil interactions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of BOF in maize–cereal production systems, with particular emphasis on maize–wheat rotations. It examines their effects on crop productivity, soil health, nutrient dynamics, and resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Current evidence indicates that BOF and microbial biostimulants improve crop performance through interconnected mechanisms, including nutrient mobilization, root development, rhizosphere regulation, and microbial-mediated soil processes. Collectively, these mechanisms enhance nutrient-use efficiency, strengthen stress tolerance, and contribute to more stable crop yields. Importantly, the benefits of BOF extend beyond single growing seasons by promoting soil biological activity, nutrient availability, and system resilience across successive crop cycles. Overall, BOF should be regarded not simply as alternatives to mineral fertilizers but as multifunctional regulators of plant–soil processes that support the sustainability of maize–wheat and other cereal-based cropping systems. Full article

Climate change is increasingly constraining agricultural productivity by intensifying drought, accelerating soil degradation, and increasing pest and disease pressure. In this context, biostimulants are emerging as sustainable tools to improve crop resilience and maintain yield under suboptimal conditions. This study evaluated the effects of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) growth, grain yield, seed quality, root traits, and soil properties under low-fertility and water-limited conditions in a marginal field in southern Italy. Treatments included an untreated control and biostimulants based on microelements, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), microbial consortia, ozonated oil, and humic substances. Biostimulants significantly affected agronomic traits. Humic substances increased plant height, while microelements markedly enhanced reproductive performance, with pod number increasing from 13 in the control to 23 pods plant⁻¹. Root traits were also improved, particularly under microbial, humic, and AMF treatments. Grain yield was highest in the ozonated oil treatment (430.6 kg ha⁻¹), whereas seed nutritional composition showed only limited variation among treatments. Biostimulants also induced treatment-specific changes in soil fertility indicators. Overall, the results indicate that selected biostimulants can improve chickpea performance and modulate soil fertility under marginal conditions, although multi-year studies are needed to confirm the stability of these responses under variable environments. Full article

Improving the productivity and stability of winter wheat under increasingly variable climatic conditions remains a major challenge for sustainable agriculture. This study evaluated the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment with a microbial preparation (Nando BioExpert) and a biostimulant (Vitazyme), applied individually and in combination, on crop establishment, yield components, and grain yield of winter wheat under unstable moisture conditions in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. A three-year field experiment demonstrated that both treatments positively influenced plant growth, while their combined application produced a pronounced synergistic effect. Seed treatment enhanced plant establishment, increasing plant density at emergence from 242 plants m⁻² in the control to 372 plants m⁻² under the combined treatment. This improvement contributed to increased stand-level productive tiller density per unit area. Consequently, grain yield was consistently improved across years, with the combined treatment producing the highest average yield (6.04 t ha⁻¹), corresponding to a 37% increase relative to the control. The results indicate enhanced winter wheat resilience to environmental stress under biological seed treatment. Overall, integrating microbial inoculants with biostimulants represents an effective strategy for improving winter wheat productivity under moisture-limited conditions and supports the transition toward sustainable and resource-efficient crop production systems. Full article

Rising global temperatures and recurrent heat waves increasingly threaten vegetable production, as vegetable crops are more thermosensitive than most field crops. Vegetable crops frequently experience severe reductions in pollen viability, fruit set, marketable yield, and quality under heat waves. Numerous reviews have substantially advanced our understanding of heat stress perception, signal transduction networks, transcriptional regulation, and thermotolerance mechanisms, primarily in model species and major field crops. However, comprehensive review articles of field-applied mitigation strategies specifically tailored to vegetable production remain limited. This review provides a critical analysis of the use of genetic resources (cultivars and grafting), field management approaches (optimized planting dates, crop rotation, canopy management, and intercropping), irrigation, nutrient optimization, biostimulants, microbial inoculants, and physical microclimate modification strategies. The research consolidates current applied and mechanistic evidence on heat-stress mitigation in vegetable crops and identifies targeted, actionable priorities for field adoption. Emphasis is placed on the integration of complementary mitigation strategies at the field scale where combined approaches may generate synergistic effects. Key research gaps include limited studies on combined heat–drought/salinity stress, lack of standardized field protocols for biostimulants, and insufficient farm-scale economic evaluations of mitigation strategies. Advancing interdisciplinary, field-validated, and climate-smart management frameworks will be essential to ensure sustainable vegetable productivity and quality stability in accelerating global warming. Full article

Climate change is emerging not only as a threat to global food production but also as a major driver of declining nutritional quality in food crops. Throughout this review, terms such as nutrient decline, imbalance, and nutritional quality changes are used to describe relative changes in the nutritional attributes of edible crop tissues, as reported in the source studies. Elevated atmospheric CO₂, altered rainfall patterns, shifts in solar radiation, and rising temperatures influence soil processes, plant metabolism, and genotype × environment interactions that determine nutrient composition and density. Evidence from controlled experiments, free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) studies, field trials, and meta-analyses suggests a recurrent tendency toward reduced concentrations of essential macronutrients and micronutrients, including protein, iron, zinc, and selected B-vitamins in a range of cereals, legumes, and horticultural crops, while responses remain context-dependent and are not universally observed across all nutrients, cultivars, or production systems. These reductions raise serious concerns for populations already experiencing widespread micronutrient deficiencies. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the extent and mechanisms of climate-driven nutrient decline across major crops, highlighting variability among species, cultivars, and production environments. We also evaluate the potential health consequences, particularly heightened risks of anemia, impaired immunity, developmental challenges, and other deficiency-related disorders. Regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are identified as highly vulnerable due to their strong dependence on nutrient-poor staples and existing burdens of hidden hunger. Furthermore, we assess key mitigation and adaptation pathways, including agronomic innovations, climate-smart agricultural practices, biofortification, advanced breeding strategies, and the emerging use of microbial and cyanobacterial biostimulants to enhance nutritional resilience in cropping systems. Finally, this review provides an integrated synthesis of climate-induced nutrient decline, its health implications for vulnerable populations, and priority actions needed to protect global food and nutrition security in the face of accelerating climate change. Full article

Application of microbial biostimulants can reduce the need for applying mineral fertilisers, particularly those with limited availability or high environmental impact, like phosphate fertilisers. A consortium of bacterial strains able of solubilizing phosphorous (P) was applied together with reduced P fertilization (60% of standard dose) carried out with either a complex fertilizer (CF) or simple P fertilizer (SF) and compared to standard fertilization rates. Trials with field grown cucumber plants were carried out for four years. The application of the microbial inoculum with reduced dose of both fertilizers did not negatively impact on plant physiological parameters and on yield. The evaluation of the inoculation impact on soil microbial activity, carried out on plants grown in rhizoboxes, showed that the aforementioned inoculation, combined with reduced doses of both fertilizers, significantly increased microbial activity in the rhizosphere compared to fertilizers applied at full doses without inoculation. The results suggest that the integration of microbial biostimulants to a reduced mineral fertilization is a strategy that can be applied also in the long term, leading to a significant reduction in the use of mineral fertilizers and a positive economic and environmental impact. Full article

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) quality is defined by integrated sensory and nutritional traits, including sugar–acid balance, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pigment-related attributes, and bioactive compounds such as ascorbic acid and phenolics. These traits emerge from coordinated regulation of carbon allocation, mineral nutrition, ripening metabolism, and stress- and defense-related signaling pathways, which are strongly modulated by environmental conditions. Sustainable biological inputs are increasingly explored as tools to influence these regulatory networks; however, evidence linking such interventions to reproducible fruit quality outcomes in Passiflora remains fragmented. This review first synthesizes current knowledge on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying passion fruit quality formation and maintenance, and then discusses how biofertilizers; microbial inoculants (including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria—PGPR and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi—AMF); fungal-derived elicitors such as chitosan and chitooligosaccharides; and complementary postharvest biological strategies may modulate these processes. Emphasis is placed on traits beyond yield, including sugar–acid balance, aroma and VOC profiles, color, nutritional quality, texture, and shelf life. By integrating genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and microbiome-based evidence, we examine how environmental modulation and key signaling pathways intersect with metabolic networks underlying fruit quality. Available studies indicate that responses to biological inputs are context-dependent and often non-linear. Key knowledge gaps and priorities for mechanism-informed sustainable management of passion fruit quality are identified. Full article

Increasing freshwater scarcity alongside growing irrigation demand poses a major challenge for agricultural production. One potential response is the use of drought adaptation amendments: materials of natural or synthetic origin that, when applied to soil or crops, either increase water availability or improve plant performance under water stress. Because these amendments range from minerals and microorganisms to polymers and plant-derived compounds, they are often studied in separate disciplinary literatures rather than as a single category of inputs. Here, we review drought adaptation amendments for agricultural use and evaluate them along three dimensions: effectiveness in mitigating drought stress, economic feasibility, and environmental and human-health implications. Across amendment classes, effectiveness is achieved through several recurring pathways, including reduced soil evaporation, altered canopy energy balance, improved infiltration and soil water retention, improved rhizosphere and root access to retained water, and enhanced physiological tolerance to water deficit. No single amendment consistently performs best across all three criteria. Materials that strongly modify soil water dynamics can be effective but may be costly or environmentally risky, while lower-risk options often have smaller or more context-dependent effects. Among the most promising lower-risk options identified in this review are microbial inoculants, certain mineral amendments, and water-based plant extracts, though their effectiveness remains context-dependent. Future research should prioritize amendments that combine drought-mitigating effects with economic feasibility and minimal environmental or health risks. Full article

The application of biostimulants is a promising tool for enhancing plant growth and crop quality in the context of sustainable and resilient agricultural production. This study evaluated four microbial biostimulants (IMB1–4) on Sonchus oleraceus L. under field and pot cultivation. Our results indicate that the growing system was a more dominant factor than biostimulants in influencing plant performance. For morphological and growth traits, biostimulants generally had a neutral or negative impact compared with untreated plants, with IMB3 consistently showing the lowest performance. Field-grown plants, especially the untreated ones, excelled in plant weight and leaf count, while pot-grown plants treated with IMB2 and IMB4 achieved higher leaf weight per plant, leaf area, and chlorophyll index (SPAD). Specifically, untreated field plants recorded the highest biomass, whereas IMB2 and IMB4 optimized leaf traits in pots. Biostimulant applications enhanced fat content and energetic value, with IMB1 and IMB2 yielding the highest protein levels. Pot cultivation favored the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium, while IMB2-treated pot plants proved most effective for maximizing overall nutrient content. The phytochemical profile also varied by system: pot-grown plants yielded higher total phenols, particularly with IMB3, while field-grown plants recorded higher flavonoids, especially with IMB4. Furthermore, untreated or IMB3-treated pot plants exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, significantly outperforming field-grown counterparts. In conclusion, while biostimulants did not improve morphological and growth traits, they significantly enhanced the nutritional and phytochemical quality of S. oleraceus L., particularly in the pot cultivation system, where specific biostimulants (IMB2 and IMB3) resulted in nutrient-dense crops with high antioxidant value. Full article

Hydroponic cultivation is expanding rapidly as a resource-efficient alternative to soil-based farming, but challenges related to nutrient management, abiotic or biotic stresses, and organic production still limit the system’s performance and efficiency. Biostimulants are increasingly being explored as a promising strategy to support productivity and sustainability in soilless systems. This review summarizes the current evidence on the use of plant biostimulants to support crop performance in hydroponic systems. Microbial biostimulants, such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Trichoderma spp., have been reported to promote root growth by synthesizing phytohormones, enhance nutrient uptake, and reduce the impacts of salt and heat stress, with reported improvements in biomass and nutrient use efficiency. Seaweed extracts and protein hydrolysates modulate plant hormonal balance, improve antioxidant defense, and have been associated with improvements in yield and quality. Humic and fulvic acids increase micronutrient bioavailability through chelation and stimulate root activity through auxin-like effects. In organic hydroponics, biostimulants may help address the nutrient gap by accelerating organic matter mineralization. Existing key challenges include the lack of hydroponic-specific dosage guidelines and high commercialization costs. Future efforts should further evaluate system-specific strategies, including emerging tools such as artificial intelligence-optimized strategies and the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-edited microbes to support the long-term sustainability of controlled environment agriculture. Full article

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereal crops is a major challenge for dryland systems that rely heavily on synthetic nitrogen (N) inputs. Microbial biostimulants have recently emerged as promising alternatives for cost-effective N inputs in wheat through foliar colonization and endophytic biological N fixation. Methylobacterium symbioticum strain SB23 (also known as BlueN or Utrisha N) is a pink-pigmented, obligately aerobic, Gram-negative, facultative methylotrophic bacterium demonstrated to potentially reduce N chemical fertilization and improve yields in various crops. A field trial consisting of large replicated 2.3 ha plots of Australian Prime Hard (APH) wheat cv. Rockstar was established in south central New South Wales, Australia, to evaluate the foliar application of M. symbioticum strain SB23 under both standard and reduced N regimes for winter wheat maturing in late spring. Application of the SB23 biostimulant significantly increased wheat leaf chlorophyll concentration at 30 and 60 days after application (DAA) and promoted biomass accumulation at 60, 90 and 120 DAA in contrast to the untreated control, with the strongest positive response under reduced N input. Specifically, the 75% N + biostimulant treatment improved biomass by up to 23% and grain yield by 14% relative to the reduced-N control, demonstrating potential supplemental fertility without yield loss. Correlation analyses revealed that mid-season chlorophyll was strongly associated with biomass and carbon assimilation (r = 0.87 and 0.84, respectively), while biomass at 60 DAA was highly correlated with grain spike weight (r = 0.81), suggesting a strong association of improved crop vigor and yield with inoculation. At harvest, SB23 enhanced biomass nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen use efficiency, with the 75%N + biostimulant treatment achieving the highest plant N uptake (25% above the reduced-N control) and the greatest partial factor productivity of nitrogen (51.8 kg grain kg⁻¹ N applied), while both 100%N treatments showed the lowest efficiency. Collectively, these findings suggest that Methylobacterium symbioticum SB23 improves NUE through enhanced crop performance thereby providing a supplementary N source and delivering a cost–benefit advantage of approximately A$170 ha⁻¹ under reduced N application. Full article