Jul 2026· Genetics and Molecular Research· 0 citations
Abstract
Biofortification of organic amendments with beneficial microbes provides a potential solution for increasing both crop productivity and soil sustainability. The current investigation assessed the effectiveness of organic amendments-namely vermicompost (VC) and endophyte biofortified VC-in terms of growth parameters, nutrient accumulation, and soil health of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). To achieve biofortified VC, prepared from goat manure and Celosia argentea biomass, with some selected plant growth promoting (PGP) endophytic bacterial strains; it was incorporated into pot culture. Treated plants (biofortified VC and conventional VC) significantly enhanced the plant growth, biomass yield and yield attributes as compared to control. Increased accumulation of important macro- and micronutrients in treated plants revealed better nutrient availability and assimilation. Analysis of soil samples showed an increased level of soil organic carbon, nutrient status, and microbial population in the treatments where biofortified VC was applied. Successful establishment and sustenance of applied endophytic microbes within rhizosphere was further confirmed by metagenomic analysis. Conclusively, biofortified VC acted as a stable platform of PGP endophytes, which provided excellent benefits to okra. This could be proposed as a nutrient amendment for sustainable and green agriculture.
The Rosaceae family includes some of the most economically important fruit and nut crops worldwide, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds. Increasing market demand and climate constraints have intensified reliance on synthetic fertilizers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced ecosystem resilience. In response, sustainable alternatives, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, have gained increasing attention. Here, we review recent findings in the application of these ecofriendly inputs in Rosaceae crops, using almonds (Prunus dulcis) as a representative case study. We highlight the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving nutrient availability, stress tolerance, soil fertility, and crop productivity through mechanisms including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, phytohormone modulation, and enhanced plant defense responses. Evidence from field, greenhouse, and controlled experimental studies has indicated that rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, as well as organic fertilizers, enhance nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, fruit yields, and quality while supporting soil biodiversity and long-term orchard sustainability. Despite their demonstrated benefits, the adoption of biofertilizers and biostimulants in almond orchards remains limited. This review discusses the current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for integrating microbial-based solutions into sustainable Rosaceae cultivation systems.
Z. Bouabidi, A. A. Saber, Najat Manaut et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
To investigate the associations of a biofertiliser derived from fermentation effluent with microbial community composition and soil physicochemical properties in northern maize cropping systems, we conducted a field trial with three fertilisation treatments (macronutrients only, T1; macronutrients plus micronutrients, T2; and fermentation effluent combined with nutrients, T3) and one conventional control (CK) in continuously cropped maize soils. Soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity and community composition, and predicted functional potential were analysed using high-throughput amplicon sequencing and standard soil assays. The results indicated that, compared with other treatments, the biofertiliser treatment (T3) was associated with significantly higher soil electrical conductivity, available phosphorus and alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, but showed no significant effect on total organic carbon or organic matter. Bacterial community diversity did not differ significantly among treatments, whereas the fungal community appeared more sensitive to fertilisation. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) supported by PERMANOVA tests revealed that the treatments significantly altered fungal community structure. The phyla Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes (including the genus Bacillus) were relatively enriched in the T3 treatment, while Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota were the dominant fungal phyla across all treatments. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that available potassium, available phosphorus, and pH were key factors associated with microbial community structure. Functional gene inference, based on taxonomic annotation, suggested that the biofertiliser was correlated with predicted functional potential related to soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. In conclusion, the biofertiliser derived from fermentation effluent was correlated with improved soil nutrient availability and with putative shifts in microbial community composition in northern maize fields, thereby providing technical support for the resource utilisation of agricultural waste and the conservation of black soil.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a raw organic composite, made from flower waste, in promoting plant growth and enhancing soil fertility. The flower‐based amendment was prepared by thermally treating (55°C) dried flower wastes from
Rosa indica
,
Chrysanthemum morifolium
, and
Jasminum auriculatum. Physicochemical
parameters were also measured. The presence of bioactive compounds in the flower‐based amendment was confirmed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Its efficacy in promoting seed germination and plant growth was tested using
Arachis hypogaea
L., with assessments of seedling emergence, shoot length, total foliage, chlorophyll content, and groundnut yield in pot assays. In addition, the potential non‐target toxicity of the flower‐based amendment was evaluated through in silico analysis, examining its effects on host plant growth, soil‐beneficial microbes, insect pests, and fungal pathogens. The treatment significantly improved key nutritional parameters and induced notable changes in the physicochemical properties of the flower‐based amendment. It resulted in substantial improvements in seedling emergence (99%), and plant growth, and yield under controlled pot conditions. The flower‐based amendment also enhanced soil nutritional quality, increasing the levels of major nutrients, including total nitrogen (81.74 mg/kg), phosphorus (78.04 mg/kg), and potassium (297 mg/kg). Notably, the docking analysis indicated that
1,3‐Dioxolane, 4‐ethyl‐5‐octyl‐2,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐
showed a high binding affinity (−9.9 ± 0.59 Kcal/mol) against the
Helicoverpa armigera
protein. Molecular docking further predicted potential interactions of the bioactive compounds with selected target proteins while indicating no significant inhibitory interaction with the selected soil‐beneficial microorganism target protein. These findings demonstrate the potential of the flower‐based amendment to promote plant growth under controlled pot conditions and provide preliminary computational evidence of potential inhibitory activity against selected pests and pathogens. Further biological validation through in vitro, in vivo, and field studies is required to confirm these predicted activities before practical agricultural application.
S. Priyanka, S. Namasivayam· Flavour and Fragrance Journa...· 0 citations
The collected evidence shows that genera such as Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Dunaliella, Arthrospira, and several cyanobacteria improve nutritional efficiency, increase antioxidant activity, promote ionic balance, and reduce oxidative damage induced by excess salts.
Rosa Sarahi González Sarmiento, Israel Osuna Flores, Arturo Rafael Armenta López· Revista Científica Arbitrada...· 0 citations
The intensive use of mineral fertilizers in horticultural systems has improved crop productivity but also increased concerns regarding soil degradation and environmental sustainability. In this context, vermicompost derived from buffalo manure may represent a sustainable alternative for nutrient management and organic waste valorization. This study evaluated the effects of four fertilization strategies on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in loam and clay soils: unfertilized control, mineral fertilization, vermicompost applied at an equivalent nitrogen rate, and the residual effect of vermicompost from a previous cauliflower crop. Agronomic performance, fruit quality, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant-related traits were assessed. Mineral fertilization produced the highest marketable yield, reaching 9.68 and 7.69 kg m−2 in loam and clay soils, respectively, mainly through increased fruit number. Direct vermicompost application maintained substantial productivity, with yields of 7.55 and 5.18 kg m−2 in the two soils. The fertilization strategies also induced distinct changes in fruit composition. Mineral fertilization increased total free amino acids to approximately 160 mg g−1 DW, mainly through the accumulation of glutamine, glutamate, asparagine and γ-aminobutyric acid, but was associated with lower soluble solids and antioxidant activity. Vermicompost promoted the highest lycopene concentration, approximately 2.1 mg g−1 DW, in clay soil and maintained intermediate antioxidant activity and amino acid concentrations. Soil texture also influenced carbohydrate partitioning, with greater fructose accumulation in clay soil and greater starch accumulation in loam soil. The residual vermicompost treatment alone did not adequately sustain tomato productivity or metabolic activity, particularly in clay soil. Overall, vermicompost partially replaced mineral fertilization while maintaining satisfactory yield and modulating fruit metabolic quality, although its effectiveness depended strongly on soil texture.
G. M. Fusco, I. Di Mola, E. Cozzolino et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
Findings suggest that molasses-enriched siderophore metabolites may act as effective biostimulants by promoting plant growth and mitigating oxidative stress, partly through modulation of rhizosphere microbiome structure and function.
M. Musiałowski, A. Bernatowicz, Łucja Kowalewska et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
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