Plant Growth—Promoting Bacteria and Plant—Soil Interactions in Harsh Environments, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Microbe Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2025 | Viewed by 3725

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Environmental Microbiology Group, Northwestern Center for Biological Research (CIBNOR), La Paz, Mexico
2. Bashan Institute of Science, Auburn, AL, USA
Interests: bacterial endophytes; microbial inoculants; plant–soil interaction; microbial communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Bashan Institute of Science, Auburn, AL, USA
Interests: plant–bacteria interaction; microbial inoculants; plant growth promoting bacteria; microbial-assisted restoration of degraded soils
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) are a diverse group of bacteria which induce beneficial effects in plants, both directly and indirectly. Many bacterial isolates have been characterized and used as inoculants to improve nutrient acquisition and mitigate environmental stress or for the biocontrol of pathogens. At present, PGPBs offer an alternative to sustainable agriculture, although their practical use for soil rehabilitation and other environmental purposes has received less attention.  

In a changing world, there is a need to explore new sources of PGPBs and investigate their metabolic potential, enabling plants to cope with intense drought, inundation, increasing salinity, soil degradation, etc.

Consequently, for this Special Issue, we encourage contributions which enhance our understanding of how PGPBs interact with plants and soils in challenging environments.

We especially welcome works on the following topics:

  • Prospection of endophytic/rhizosphere/phyllosphere bacteria with plant-growth potential.
  • Exploring the role of PGPBs on wild and cultivated plants.
  • Interaction of PGPBs on the microbial communities of their host and soil.
  • Validation of bacterial inoculants interacting with plants used in soil rehabilitation.
  • Elucidation of new mechanisms of plant growth promotion.

Dr. Blanca R. López
Prof. Dr. Luz De-Bashan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • plant growth-promoting bacteria
  • endophytes
  • environmental stress
  • nitrogen fixing bacteria
  • P and K solubilizing bacteria
  • mechanisms of plant growth
  • PGPB-plant interaction soil microbial communities
  • soil rehabilitation
  • bacterial inoculants and biosafety

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
The Rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MHR24 Has Biocontrol Ability Against Fungal Phytopathogens and Promotes Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana
by Mónica Hernández-Rodríguez, Diana Jasso-de Rodríguez, Francisco Daniel Hernández-Castillo, Ivana Moggio, Eduardo Arias, José Humberto Valenzuela-Soto and Alberto Flores-Olivas
Microorganisms 2024, 12(11), 2380; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112380 - 20 Nov 2024
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Abstract
A novel rhizobacteria Bacillus was isolated from rhizosphere of soil associated with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under open field conditions. The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MHR24 (MHR24) is a promising biocontrol agent against several fungal phytopathogens. In this research, MHR24 was characterized by [...] Read more.
A novel rhizobacteria Bacillus was isolated from rhizosphere of soil associated with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under open field conditions. The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MHR24 (MHR24) is a promising biocontrol agent against several fungal phytopathogens. In this research, MHR24 was characterized by an effective antagonistic ability against Alternaria alternata (Aa), Botrytis cinerea (Bc), Fusarium oxysporum F1 (F1), F. oxysporum F2 (F2), F. oxysporum R3 (F3), and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Sc). In particular, MHR24 showed a strong inhibition via airborne volatiles against Bc, F3, Aa, and F2 fungal strains. MHR24 also showed elevated saline stress tolerance at 1% and 25% to NaCl and KCl. The molecular sequence analysis of 16S rDNA confirmed the identity of the isolate as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MHR24. Bioassays on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 inoculated with MHR24 showed in in vitro conditions that MHR24 significantly increases the foliar and root area, while in growth chamber conditions, it strongly increases the dry shoot biomass of A. thaliana. The observed results indicate that B. amyloliquefaciens MHR24 has a broad-spectrum biocontrol against fungal phytopathogens and can be used as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agent to improve horticultural crops. Full article
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13 pages, 2526 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Rhizospheric and Endophytic Bacteria on the Germination of Carajasia cangae: A Threatened Rubiaceae of the Amazon Cangas
by Daniela Boanares, Aline Figueiredo Cardoso, Diego Fernando Escobar Escobar, Keila Jamille Alves Costa, José Augusto Bitencourt, Paulo Henrique O. Costa, Silvio Ramos, Markus Gastauer and Cecilio Frois Caldeira
Microorganisms 2024, 12(9), 1843; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12091843 - 6 Sep 2024
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Abstract
Carajasia cangae (Rubiaceae) is a narrow endemic species from the canga ecosystems of the Carajás National Forest that is facing extinction due to a limited range and habitat disturbance from hydroclimatological changes and mining activities. This study examines the influence of rhizospheric and [...] Read more.
Carajasia cangae (Rubiaceae) is a narrow endemic species from the canga ecosystems of the Carajás National Forest that is facing extinction due to a limited range and habitat disturbance from hydroclimatological changes and mining activities. This study examines the influence of rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria on C. cangae seed germination to support conservation efforts. Soil samples, both rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric, as well as plant root tissues, were collected. Bacteria from these samples were subsequently isolated, cultured, and identified. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of 16 isolates (9 rhizospheric and 7 endophytic), representing 19 genera and 6 phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. The endophytic isolates of Bacillus and the rhizospheric isolates of Planococcus and Lysinibacillus reduced the median germination time and initiation time, while the rhizospheric isolates Serratia and Comamonas increased the germination time and decreased the germination percentage in comparison to the control sample. These findings emphasize the crucial role of endophytic bacteria in the germination of C. cangae and highlight isolates that could have beneficial effects in the following stages of plant growth. Understanding the impact of endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial isolates on seed germination can enhance conservation efforts by shortening the germination period of this species and thereby improving seedling production. Additionally, this knowledge will pave the way for future research on the role of bacteria in the establishment of C. cangae. Full article
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18 pages, 14747 KiB  
Article
Performance of Halo-Alkali-Tolerant Endophytic Bacteria on Hybrid Pennisetum and Bacterial Community under Varying Soil Conditions
by Xia Li, Yiming Ding, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, Xiaoyan Geng, Huifang Jiang, Yongli Wang, Yanfang Wu, Lu Gao, Lei Fu, Jianxiong Jiang and Jianzhong Sun
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061062 - 24 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1024
Abstract
Halo-alkali soil threatens agriculture, reducing growth and crop yield worldwide. In this study, physicochemical and molecular techniques were employed to explore the potential of halo-alkali-tolerant endophytic bacteria strains Sphingomonas sp. pp01, Bacillus sp. pp02, Pantoea sp. pp04, and Enterobacter sp. pp06 to enhance [...] Read more.
Halo-alkali soil threatens agriculture, reducing growth and crop yield worldwide. In this study, physicochemical and molecular techniques were employed to explore the potential of halo-alkali-tolerant endophytic bacteria strains Sphingomonas sp. pp01, Bacillus sp. pp02, Pantoea sp. pp04, and Enterobacter sp. pp06 to enhance the growth of hybrid Pennisetum under varying saline conditions. The strains exhibited tolerance to high salt concentrations, alkaline pH, and high temperatures. Under controlled conditions, all four strains showed significant growth-promoting effects on hybrid Pennisetum inoculated individually or in combination. However, the effects were significantly reduced in coastal saline soil. The best growth-promoting effect was achieved under greenhouse conditions, increasing shoot fresh and dry weights of hybrid Pennisetum by up to 457.7% and 374.7%, respectively, using irrigating trials. Metagenomic sequencing analysis revealed that the diversity and composition of rhizosphere microbiota underwent significant changes after inoculation with endophytic bacteria. Specifically, pp02 and co-inoculation significantly increased the Dyella and Pseudomonas population. Firmicutes, Mycobacteria, and Proteobacteria phyla were enriched in Bacillus PP02 samples. These may explain the best growth-promoting effects of pp02 and co-inoculation on hybrid Pennisetum under greenhouse conditions. Our findings reveal the performance of endophytic bacterial inoculants in enhancing beneficial microbiota, salt stress tolerance, and hybrid Pennisetum growth. Full article
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