Microbial Biocontrol and Plant-Microbe Interactions

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 505

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bioresources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Interests: plant-microbe interactions; biological control of phytopathogens; quorum sensing; microbiome manipulation; plant and microbial metabolites against pathogens; endophytic microbiome for fruit and plant diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial biocontrol involves the use of microorganisms and their microbial products to suppress plant pathogens, thereby enhancing plant health and productivity. This approach leverages the natural interactions between plants and microbes, including beneficial bacteria and fungi, to create a more resilient agricultural ecosystem. Effective microbial biocontrol agents can outcompete pathogens for resources, produce antimicrobial compounds, and induce systemic resistance in plants. Plant–microbe interactions are complex and can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful. Beneficial interactions often involve endophytic and rhizospheric microbes, which enhance nutrient uptake and improve plant stress tolerance. These interactions can also stimulate plant growth and enhance resistance to diseases.

This Special Issue aims to integrate the application of microbial biocontrol, which is gaining more attention as a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, aligning with the principles of integrated pest management. By harnessing beneficial plant–microbe interactions, agricultural practices can reduce dependency on synthetic chemicals, promote biodiversity, and improve soil health, ultimately leading to sustainable and productive farming systems. Advanced research into these interactions is essential for optimizing microbial biocontrol strategies and understanding their mechanisms of action.

Dr. Shahzad Munir
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • endophytic microbiome for disease management
  • plant–microbe interactions
  • plant–insect–pathogen interactions
  • microbial and plant metabolites against pathogens
  • pathogen signaling
  • microbial communities shift for disease prevention
  • omics approaches
  • abiotic stress response

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 6711 KiB  
Article
Insight into Antifungal Metabolites from Bacillus stercoris 92p Against Banana Cordana Leaf Spot Caused by Neocordana musae
by Qunfang Yu, Pengbo He, Yanxiang Qi, Pengfei He, Ayesha Ahmed, Xin Zhang, He Zhang, Yixin Wu, Shahzad Munir and Yueqiu He
Biomolecules 2024, 14(12), 1495; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14121495 - 24 Nov 2024
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Banana crop ranks among the most crucial fruit and food crops in tropical and subtropical areas. Despite advancements in production technology, diseases such as cordana leaf spot, caused by Neocordana musae, remain a significant challenge, reducing productivity and quality. Traditional chemical controls [...] Read more.
Banana crop ranks among the most crucial fruit and food crops in tropical and subtropical areas. Despite advancements in production technology, diseases such as cordana leaf spot, caused by Neocordana musae, remain a significant challenge, reducing productivity and quality. Traditional chemical controls are becoming less effective due to the development of resistance in target pathogens, which pose significant environmental and health concerns. Consequently, there is growing attention toward the development of biocontrol strategies. Here, we identified a new bacterial strain, Bacillus stercoris 92p, from the rhizosphere soil of banana. We evaluated its ability to suppress the growth of N. musae and other fungal pathogens that cause leaf spot disease in bananas. The inhibitory effect of B. stercoris 92p were checked using dual culture assays, microscopic observations, and pot experiments. Furthermore, the biocontrol mechanisms were investigated using whole-genome sequencing and biochemical analyses. The results showed that B. stercoris 92p exhibited significant antifungal activity against N. musae and other fungal pathogens, with inhibition rates exceeding 70%. Microscopic examination revealed significant morphological alterations in the hyphae and conidia of the tested pathogens. In pot experiments, B. stercoris 92p effectively reduced the severity of cordana leaf spot, achieving a biocontrol efficacy of 61.55%. Genomic analysis and biochemical tests indicated that B. stercoris 92p produces various antifungal compounds, including lipopeptides (fengycins and surfactins), hydrolytic enzymes (proteases and amylases), and phosphate-solubilizing metabolites. In conclusion, the study highlights that B. stercoris could potentially be used as a potential biological control agent against cordana leaf spot. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Biocontrol and Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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