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Agriculture
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The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Crop Improvement
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The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Crop Improvement

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2024 | Viewed by 4088

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Salvadora Navarro-Torre

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: legumes; rhizobia; PGPB; halophytes; microbiome; abiotic stress; phytoremediation
Prof. Dr. Ignacio David Rodríguez-Llorente

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: legumes; rhizobia; PGPB; halophytes; microbiome; abiotic stress; phytoremediation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to climate change, the quality of the agricultural soils is decreasing, and some human activities make this situation worse. In this context, crops struggle to grow due to the presence of abiotic stresses such as salinity, organic and inorganic pollution, drought, and high temperatures, which interfere with their development, causing a loss of productivity. As the world population is increasing, it is important to promote crop growth, even in degraded soils with the presence of abiotic stress, to feed the population. To stop the reduction in agricultural areas due to human activities, it is necessary to change the way of promoting crop growth, replacing chemical fertilizers and pesticides with more ecofriendly tools.

In both of the cases discussed above, plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are excellent candidates to improve crop development and productivity in order to promote their growth in degraded soils and alleviate plant stress. In addition, PGPB have plant-growth-promoting (PGP) properties, which help plants to uptake nutrients and protect against biotic stresses such as phytopathogens. For this reason, PGPB have the potential to be used as biofertilizers and biopesticides for crop improvement in any environment in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Salvadora Navarro-Torre
Prof. Dr. Ignacio David Rodríguez-Llorente
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • biofertilizers
  • biopesticides
  • PGPB
  • abiotic stress
  • biotic stress
  • biocontrol

Published Papers (4 papers)

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20 pages, 1911 KiB  
Article
Identification of Conserved Pathways in Bacillus Strains Known for Plant Growth-Promoting Behavior Using a Multifaceted Computational Approach
by Vandana Apurva Das, Budhayash Gautam, Pramod Kumar Yadav and Satendra Singh
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060838 - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Bacillus strains have long been recognized for their beneficial interactions with plants, enhancing growth, nutrient uptake, and stress resistance. Understanding their molecular mechanisms and plant‒microbe interactions is crucial for harnessing their potential in sustainable agriculture. Here we used ten strains from the 5 [...] Read more.
Bacillus strains have long been recognized for their beneficial interactions with plants, enhancing growth, nutrient uptake, and stress resistance. Understanding their molecular mechanisms and plant‒microbe interactions is crucial for harnessing their potential in sustainable agriculture. Here we used ten strains from the 5 Bacillus species namely Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus altitudinis and Bacillus amylofaciens, which are previously reported for PGPR activity. A comparative analysis of these strains was performed to determine their evolutionary relationships, which revealed that Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are closely related based on underlying genetic and proteomic similarities. Bacillus altitudinis strain LZP02 was the most distantly related to all the other selected strains. On the other hand, Bacillus atrophaeus strains GQJK17 and CNY01 are shown to be closely related to each other. Mauve alignment was performed to determine the genetic relationships between these strains. The LZP02 strain exhibited several unique inversions harboring important genes, such as betB, ftsW, and rodA, which are important for bacterial survival. Proteomic analysis highlighted important pathways that were conserved across these strains, including xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism, biosynthesis of polyketides and nonribosomal pathways, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, all of which have been shown to be involved in plant growth promotion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Crop Improvement)
19 pages, 4433 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Soil Properties and the Physiological and Anatomical Characteristics of Wheat under Water-Deficit Stress Conditions
by Abdulaziz A. Alaskar and Hind A. AL-Shwaiman
Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112042 - 24 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1451
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatments, B1, Azosprillium lipoferum Sp2 and B2, A. lipoferum Sp2 + Pseudomonas sp. SARS12, as well as inorganic nitrogen doses (60, 100, 140 and 180 kg N ha–1) on [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatments, B1, Azosprillium lipoferum Sp2 and B2, A. lipoferum Sp2 + Pseudomonas sp. SARS12, as well as inorganic nitrogen doses (60, 100, 140 and 180 kg N ha–1) on some soil physical characters, physiological, anatomical and yield parameters as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat under water deficit stress. Results showed that water stress significantly decreased physiological characters such as chlorophyll content (6.7 and 9.8%) and relative water content (13.7 and 11.2%) in both seasons, respectively. Nevertheless, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly (26.9, 12.3% and 90.2, 96.4%) in both seasons, respectively, as signals for water stress. The anatomical characteristics of flag leaves were negatively affected. Inoculation of wheat grains with PGPR significantly increased field capacity and RWC, adjusted enzymes’ activity and thus improved the physiological and yield traits and NUE as well as improving the anatomical features of flag leaves. Moreover, the combination of integrated PGPR and 140 kg N ha−1 significantly improved grain yield and its components as well as grain N uptake in comparison to control treatments. In conclusion, PGPR improved wheat productivity and NUE; they are an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach for improving plant production, and reducing nutrient leaching hazards and the negative impact of water stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Crop Improvement)
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21 pages, 2132 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Upland Rice Growth and Yield with Indigenous Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Isolate at N-Fertilizers Dosage
by Rahma Tia Harahap, Isnaniar Rahmatul Azizah, Mieke Rochimi Setiawati, Diyan Herdiyantoro and Tualar Simarmata
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1987; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101987 - 13 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1205
Abstract
Upland rice farming plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates on the growth of upland rice. The bioassay and pot experiments were conducted to select the capable [...] Read more.
Upland rice farming plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates on the growth of upland rice. The bioassay and pot experiments were conducted to select the capable isolates of PGPR and to investigate the effect of the PGPR inoculant on the N fertilizer efficiency and agronomic traits of upland rice. The bacterial isolates were identified through a biochemical analysis and tested under controlled greenhouse conditions. The selected PGPR inoculant was formulated as a liquid biofertilizer (LB). The three capable isolates were obtained to fix nitrogen, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), organic acid, and nitrogenase activity and were identified through a biomolecular analysis as Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp. The application of the LB into the soil at a dose of 10 L ha−1 and 50 kg ha−1 N resulted in a grain yield of 29.81 g pot−1 and a relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value of 235.08%, signifying a significant improvement over the conventional method. Several variables, including the number of grains, number of panicles, root length, 1000-grain weight, population of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and nitrogen uptake exhibited a strong correlation with the grain yield, accounting for 97.80% of the observed variation. These findings show the enormous potential of PGPR isolates, specifically of Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp., in significantly enhancing the upland rice output in Indonesia. Furthermore, the use of an LB as a biofertilizer in conjunction with nitrogen fertilization provides a viable and sustainable way to increase yields and enhance the overall sustainability of the region’s upland rice farming systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Crop Improvement)
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19 pages, 2073 KiB  
Systematic Review
Bacterial Endophytes and Their Contributions to Alleviating Drought and Salinity Stresses in Wheat: A Systematic Review of Physiological Mechanisms
by Fayha Al-Hawamdeh, Jamal Y. Ayad, Kholoud M. Alananbeh and Muhanad W. Akash
Agriculture 2024, 14(5), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14050769 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 468
Abstract
Drought and salinity stresses significantly threaten global wheat productivity, limiting growth and reducing yields, thus endangering food security worldwide. These stresses disrupt physiological processes, impair photosynthesis, and hinder optimal growth and yield by diminishing water uptake, causing osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and oxidative [...] Read more.
Drought and salinity stresses significantly threaten global wheat productivity, limiting growth and reducing yields, thus endangering food security worldwide. These stresses disrupt physiological processes, impair photosynthesis, and hinder optimal growth and yield by diminishing water uptake, causing osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and oxidative stress. In response, various mitigation strategies have been explored, including breeding for stress-tolerant cultivars, improved irrigation techniques, and the application of exogenous osmoprotectants and soil amendments. Among these strategies, the emergence of rhizospheric and endophytic growth-promoting microorganisms has attracted significant attention. Therefore, a systematic review was undertaken to illustrate the role of endophytic bacteria in enhancing wheat tolerance to drought and salinity stresses. This review analyzes physiological mechanisms and research trends, identifies gaps, and discusses implications for sustainable agriculture. An analysis of the literature related to endophytic bacteria in wheat was conducted using databases of major publishers from 2004 to 2023. The review explores their mechanisms, such as phytohormone production and stress-responsive gene induction, emphasizing their contribution to plant growth and stress resilience. The current research trends indicate a growing interest in utilizing endophytic bacteria to mitigate these stresses in wheat cultivation, with studies focusing on understanding their physiological responses and interactions with wheat plants. Future research should concentrate on elucidating the role of endophytic bacteria in enhancing host plant tolerance to multiple stressors, as well as aspects like endophytic mechanism of action, endophytic lifestyle, and transmission pathways. Overall, endophytic bacteria offer promising avenues for sustainable agricultural practices, aiding in crop resilience and food security amid environmental challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Crop Improvement)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Deciphering the plant-microbial- nanomaterials interaction and mitigating plant stress
Authors: Debasis Mitra
Affiliation: R/138, Microbiology, ICAR- National Rice Research Institute, 753006 Cuttack (Odisha) India
Abstract: In recent decades, the increasing incidences of abiotic and biotic stresses in plants have been a major cause of decrease in crop yield. Abiotic stress including solar radiation, extreme temperature variations, drought, soil salinity, flooding, and heavy metals, etc. have greatly impacted crop yield. Similarly, the biotic stress imposed on plants by several phytopathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes, and arthropods has become a threat to the growth and development of plants. Presently, these stresses have become an important topic of discussion in both basic and applied fields of botany, agriculture, ecology, and environmental studies. Plants have developed various mechanisms for coping with these stresses. Particularly the interaction or using of new engineered nanomaterials in agriculture that alleviating and resilience of stresses has been an important discovery on sustaining plant growth under stress conditions. Plant signaling coupled with stimulation of cellular responses by particles interaction has been an intricate component of stress management principles. Other side, these nanomaterials - microflora interact with the plant either as endophytes or epiphytes residing in the rhizosphere or phyllosphere. Interestingly, the development of multi-omics technologies and high-performance platforms integrating genomic, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data have made several advancements in deciphering the plant-microbial- nanomaterials interaction and their role played in stress management. Further, the advancements in policy changes, delivery of technology, application of sensors, product formulations, nanofertilizers, genetic transformation and priming, etc. have become important areas of research for stress management of cropping plants on a global scale. In this review, an attempt has been made to shed light on the intricate stress abatement mechanisms delivered by bacteria in plants and available technologies mitigating stress responses, integrating which a holistic approach towards multiple stress management issues in plants could be developed for sustaining crop output.

Title: Effect of Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria on soil properties, physiological and anatomical characters of wheat under water deficit stress correlated with improvement of yield characters
Authors: Khaled Abdelaal
Affiliation: Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr el-Sheikh, Egypt

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