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Nkebiwe PM, Stevens Lekfeldt JD, Symanczik S, Thonar C, Mäder P, Bar-Tal A, Halpern M, Biró B, Bradáčová K, Caniullan PC, Choudhary KK, Cozzolino V, Di Stasio E, Dobczinski S, Geistlinger J, Lüthi A, Gómez-Muñoz B, Kandeler E, Kolberg F, Kotroczó Z, Kulhanek M, Mercl F, Tamir G, Moradtalab N, Piccolo A, Maggio A, Nassal D, Szalai MZ, Juhos K, Fora CG, Florea A, Poşta G, Lauer KF, Toth B, Tlustoš P, Mpanga IK, Weber N, Weinmann M, Yermiyahu U, Magid J, Müller T, Neumann G, Ludewig U, de Neergaard A. Effectiveness of bio-effectors on maize, wheat and tomato performance and phosphorus acquisition from greenhouse to field scales in Europe and Israel: a meta-analysis. Front Plant Sci 2024; 15:1333249. [PMID: 38628362 PMCID: PMC11020074 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1333249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Biostimulants (Bio-effectors, BEs) comprise plant growth-promoting microorganisms and active natural substances that promote plant nutrient-acquisition, stress resilience, growth, crop quality and yield. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of BEs, particularly under field conditions, appears highly variable and poorly quantified. Using random model meta-analyses tools, we summarize the effects of 107 BE treatments on the performance of major crops, mainly conducted within the EU-funded project BIOFECTOR with a focus on phosphorus (P) nutrition, over five years. Our analyses comprised 94 controlled pot and 47 field experiments under different geoclimatic conditions, with variable stress levels across European countries and Israel. The results show an average growth/yield increase by 9.3% (n=945), with substantial differences between crops (tomato > maize > wheat) and growth conditions (controlled nursery + field (Seed germination and nursery under controlled conditions and young plants transplanted to the field) > controlled > field). Average crop growth responses were independent of BE type, P fertilizer type, soil pH and plant-available soil P (water-P, Olsen-P or Calcium acetate lactate-P). BE effectiveness profited from manure and other organic fertilizers, increasing soil pH and presence of abiotic stresses (cold, drought/heat or salinity). Systematic meta-studies based on published literature commonly face the inherent problem of publication bias where the most suspected form is the selective publication of statistically significant results. In this meta-analysis, however, the results obtained from all experiments within the project are included. Therefore, it is free of publication bias. In contrast to reviews of published literature, our unique study design is based on a common standardized protocol which applies to all experiments conducted within the project to reduce sources of variability. Based on data of crop growth, yield and P acquisition, we conclude that application of BEs can save fertilizer resources in the future, but the efficiency of BE application depends on cropping systems and environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peteh Mehdi Nkebiwe
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jonas D. Stevens Lekfeldt
- Faculty of Science, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Sarah Symanczik
- Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick, Switzerland
| | - Cécile Thonar
- Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick, Switzerland
| | - Paul Mäder
- Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick, Switzerland
| | - Asher Bar-Tal
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Moshe Halpern
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Rishon LeZion, Israel
- Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat, Israel
| | - Borbala Biró
- Department of Agro-Environmental Studies, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Klára Bradáčová
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Pedro C. Caniullan
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Krishna K. Choudhary
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Vincenza Cozzolino
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca sulla Risonanza Magnetica Nucleare per l’Ambiente, l’Agro-Alimentare ed i Nuovi Materiali (CERMANU), Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Emilio Di Stasio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Stefan Dobczinski
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Joerg Geistlinger
- Institute of Bioanalytical Sciences, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Lüthi
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Beatriz Gómez-Muñoz
- Faculty of Science, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Ellen Kandeler
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Flora Kolberg
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Zsolt Kotroczó
- Department of Agro-Environmental Studies, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Martin Kulhanek
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Suchdol, Czechia
| | - Filip Mercl
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Suchdol, Czechia
| | - Guy Tamir
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Rishon LeZion, Israel
- Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat, Israel
| | - Narges Moradtalab
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Alessandro Piccolo
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca sulla Risonanza Magnetica Nucleare per l’Ambiente, l’Agro-Alimentare ed i Nuovi Materiali (CERMANU), Università di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Albino Maggio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Dinah Nassal
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Magdolna Zita Szalai
- Department of Agro-Environmental Studies, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Juhos
- Department of Agro-Environmental Studies, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ciprian G. Fora
- Department of Horticulture, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Timișoara, Romania
| | - Andreea Florea
- Department of Horticulture, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Timișoara, Romania
| | - Gheorghe Poşta
- Department of Horticulture, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Timișoara, Romania
| | - Karl Fritz Lauer
- Department of Horticulture, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Timișoara, Romania
| | - Brigitta Toth
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Agricultural Management, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Pavel Tlustoš
- Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Suchdol, Czechia
| | - Isaac K. Mpanga
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nino Weber
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Markus Weinmann
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Uri Yermiyahu
- Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat, Israel
| | - Jakob Magid
- Faculty of Science, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Torsten Müller
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Günter Neumann
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Uwe Ludewig
- Institute of Crop Science, Departments of Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andreas de Neergaard
- Faculty of Science, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
- Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
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Bradáčová K, Sittinger M, Tietz K, Neuhäuser B, Kandeler E, Berger N, Ludewig U, Neumann G. Maize Inoculation with Microbial Consortia: Contrasting Effects on Rhizosphere Activities, Nutrient Acquisition and Early Growth in Different Soils. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7090329. [PMID: 31500269 PMCID: PMC6780557 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7090329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The benefit of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) as plant inoculants is influenced by a wide range of environmental factors. Therefore, microbial consortia products (MCPs) based on multiple PGPM strains with complementary functions, have been proposed as superior, particularly under challenging environmental conditions and for restoration of beneficial microbial communities in disturbed soil environments. To test this hypothesis, the performance of a commercial MCP inoculant based on 22 PGPM strains was investigated in greenhouse experiments with maize on three soils with contrasting pH, organic matter content and microbial activity, under different P and N fertilization regimes. Interestingly, the MCP inoculant stimulated root and shoot growth and improved the acquisition of macronutrients only on a freshly collected field soil with high organic matter content, exclusively in combination with stabilized ammonium fertilization. This was associated with transiently increased expression of AuxIAA5 in the root tissue, a gene responsive to exogenous auxin supply, suggesting root growth promotion by microbial auxin production as a major mode of action of the MCP inoculant. High microbial activity was indicated by intense expression of soil enzyme activities involved in C, N and P cycling in the rhizosphere (cellulase, leucine peptidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases) but without MCP effects. By contrast, the MCP inoculation did not affect maize biomass production or nutrient acquisition on soils with very little Corg and low microbial activity, although moderate stimulation of rhizosphere enzymes involved in N and P cycling was recorded. There was also no indication for MCP-induced solubilization of Ca-phosphates on a calcareous sub-soil fertilized with rock-phosphate. The results demonstrate that the combination of multiple PGPM strains with complementary properties as MCP inoculants does not necessarily translate into plant benefits in challenging environments. Thus, a better understanding of the conditions determining successful MCP application is mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klára Bradáčová
- Institute of Crop Science (340h), Universität Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Maximilian Sittinger
- Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Biological Control, Heinrichstraße 243, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Katharina Tietz
- Institute of Crop Science (340h), Universität Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Neuhäuser
- Institute of Crop Science (340h), Universität Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Ellen Kandeler
- Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Soil Biology Department, Universität Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 27, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | | | - Uwe Ludewig
- Institute of Crop Science (340h), Universität Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Günter Neumann
- Institute of Crop Science (340h), Universität Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 20, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
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