Impact of quorum sensing from native peanut phosphate solubilizing Serratia sp. S119 strain on interactions with agronomically important crops

Alleviation of Plant Abiotic Stress: Mechanistic Insights into Emerging Applications of Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms in Agriculture

Global agricultural productivity and ecosystem sustainability face escalating threats from multiple abiotic stresses, particularly heavy metal contamination, drought, and soil salinization. In this context, developing effective strategies to enhance plant stress tolerance has emerged as a critical research frontier. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) have garnered significant scientific attention due to their capacity to convert insoluble soil phosphorus into plant-available forms through metabolite production, and concurrently exhibiting multifaceted plant growth-promoting traits. Notably, PSMs demonstrate remarkable potential in enhancing plant resilience and productivity under multiple stress conditions. This review article systematically examines current applications of PSMs in typical abiotic stress environments, including heavy metal-polluted soils, arid ecosystems, and saline-alkaline lands. We comprehensively analyze the stress-alleviation effects of PSMs and elucidate their underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we identify key knowledge gaps and propose future research directions in microbial-assisted phytoremediation and stress-mitigation strategies, offering novel insights for developing next-generation bioinoculants and advancing sustainable agricultural practices in challenging environments.

Phosphorus dynamics and sustainable agriculture: The role of microbial solubilization and innovations in nutrient management

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant growth, playing a crucial role in various metabolic processes. Despite its importance, phosphorus availability in soils is often restricted due to its tendency to form insoluble complexes, limiting plant uptake. The increasing demand for phosphorus in agriculture, combined with limited global reserves of phosphate rock, has created challenges for sustainable plant production. Additionally, the overuse of chemical phosphorus fertilizers has resulted in environmental degradation, such as eutrophication of water bodies. Increasing agronomic phosphorus (P) efficiency is crucial because of population growth and increased food demand. Hence, microorganisms involved in the P cycle are a promising biotechnological strategy that has gained global interest in recent decades. Microorganisms' solubilization of phosphate rock (PR) is an environmentally sustainable alternative to chemical processing for producing phosphate fertilizers. Phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs), including bacteria and fungi, and their enzymatic processes offer an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to chemical inputs by converting insoluble phosphorus into forms readily available for plant uptake. Integrating PSMs into agricultural systems presents a promising strategy to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, enhance soil health, and contribute to the transition toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. It can be an alternative that reduces the loss of phosphorus in the environment, especially the eutrophication of aquatic systems. This paper explores the challenges of phosphorus availability in agriculture and the potential of microbial phosphorus solubilization as a sustainable alternative to conventional practices.

Tomato Root Exudates Infected by Meloidogyne incognita Impact the Colonization of Nematicidal Proteus vulgaris

Root exudates play a pivotal role in shaping the microbial community in the rhizosphere and can impact the efficacy of bacteria in controlling nematode populations. This study identified Proteus vulgaris BX-1 as significantly effective in controlling Meloidogyne incognita. The infection of tomato plants with this nematode induced noticeable alterations in the composition of tomato root exudates and led to an increased colonization rate of strain BX-1. Further investigation into how strain BX-1 responded to changes in tomato root exudates revealed that specific metabolites, such as caffeic acid, coumarin, salicylic acid, sebacic acid, and butyric acid, strongly attracted strain BX-1. This attraction potentially contributed to its enhanced colonization and improved efficiency in controlling nematodes. Understanding the correlation between specific metabolites in root exudates and the response of antagonistic bacteria provides valuable insights for enhancing their effectiveness as biological control agents against plant-parasitic nematodes.