Molasses-amended siderophore biofertilizer reshapes the rhizosphere microbiome, promotes growth and reduces lipid peroxidation in Ocimum basilicum L

Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation Reshapes Chemotype, Nutritional Status, and Metabolic Signatures to Enhance Bioactivity in Origanum compactum Benth.

Overall, mycorrhizal fungal inoculation reshaped the chemical composition and the major bioactive compounds of Oregano, thereby enhancing its nutritional and antimicrobial potential.

Biostimulant potential of lactic acid bacteria in hydroponic lettuce production: growth and nutritional quality

The use of microbial biostimulants has become an important strategy for improving the productivity and quality of soilless vegetable production systems. However, the potential role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in hydroponic crop production remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluated the effects of three LAB strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Levilactobacillus brevis (LB), and Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP), their combined mixture, and a commercial PGPR-based product, Rhizofill, on the growth, yield, physiological performance, and nutritional quality of lettuce grown in a floating hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using Batavia-type lettuce cv. ‘Caipira’ in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Bacterial suspensions were applied to the nutrient solution at 7-day intervals. Bacterial inoculations significantly improved plant growth, yield, SPAD chlorophyll index, leaf sap EC, and antioxidant-related quality traits compared with the untreated control. Among the tested treatments, LP showed the strongest overall performance, increasing plant fresh weight and total yield by 34.0% and 36.0%, respectively, compared with the control. LP also enhanced total phenolic, flavonoid, and L-ascorbic acid contents, indicating a simultaneous improvement in productivity and nutritional quality. LB was particularly effective in promoting root fresh weight and produced the lowest nitrate accumulation among all treatments. Compared with Rhizofill, LP showed equal or superior performance in several growth and quality parameters, suggesting that selected LAB strains may provide an effective alternative to conventional PGPR-based microbial biostimulants. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of LAB, particularly L. plantarum, as emerging microbial biostimulants for sustainable hydroponic lettuce production.

Rhizobia mitigates autotoxicity in Malus hupehensis via phenolic degradation and enhanced melatonin-antioxidant responses

Introduction Phloridzin is a major autotoxin contributing to apple replant disease (ARD) by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting the rhizosphere ecology. Methods This study evaluated the potential of Ensifer meliloti y5077 to mitigate these detrimental effects in Malus hupehensis. Results Strain y5077 demonstrated high degradation efficiency, removing 100% of phloridzin in vitro within 48 h and reducing soil phloridzin levels by 68.4% in 60-day pot experiments. Inoculation significantly improved seedling growth under autotoxic stress, with root dry weight increased compared to non-inoculated stressed plants. These growth benefits were linked to a significant increase in endogenous melatonin levels and the restoration of antioxidant enzyme activities to normal basal levels, which effectively suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, y5077 inoculation restructured the rhizosphere microbiome, characterized by significant shifts in the relative abundance of specific microbial taxa (e.g., increases in Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota, and decreases in Basidiomycota). Discussion These results demonstrate that y5077 acts as a multi-functional bioremediator that integrates toxin degradation with physiological priming and rhizosphere microbial community restructuring, providing a robust and sustainable biological solution for mitigating phloridzin-induced autotoxic stress in apple seedlings.

Integrated biostimulant applications improve growth, physiological performance and soil properties of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

The use of Trichoderma, AMF, and Bc can support sustainable pistachio production by improving growth, physiological performance, and nutrient status.

Kosakonia oryziphila KC516 mediated growth promotion of Cosmos bipinnatus in phosphogypsum by modulating rhizosphere geochemistry and root transcriptome

Sucrose and pipecolic acid-mediated enrichment of rhizosphere Rhizobiale Burkholderiale bacteria improve soybean growth under low light conditions.

Low light (LL) is a major constraint on the productivity of intercropped legumes and dense planting crops, and also affects the root-associated microbial communities. However, how LL reshapes the root-microbe interactions and whether the root microbiota can mitigate LL-induced damage in legumes remain unclear. Here, a meta-analysis based on field observations revealed that negative effects predominated (>70%) in intercropped and dense planting legume systems, with the light intensity emerging as the primary determinant of yield variation. Using soybean as a model, we found that LL suppressed photosynthesis, biomass accumulation and nodulation, and these effects were further aggravated in sterile soil. Furthermore, soil-transplantation experiments showed that soils conditioned by LL-grown plants reduced subsequent plant biomass. Compared to normal light (NL), LL shifted rhizosphere microbial assembly toward a more deterministic process, reducing bacterial diversity and simplifying bacterial co-occurrence networks, with Rhizobiales and Burkholderiales being the significantly reduced taxa. Metabolomic analysis identified sucrose and pipecolic acid as LL-responsive metabolites that were strongly correlated with these taxa. Chemotaxis and growth assays demonstrated that sucrose functions as both a carbon source and a chemoattractant, whereas pipecolic acid acts as a chemoattractant. Reintroduction of representative isolates or simplified SynCom alleviated LL-induced growth inhibition by enhancing photosynthetic performance, modulating redox status, and reprogramming host transcriptional responses. Together, our findings provide evidence of a belowground regulatory mechanism linking root exudates, rhizosphere microbiota, and plant performance under LL, and highlight the potential of microbiome-based strategies to improve crop production in low-light environments.