Abstract
A growing body of evidence demonstrates the potential of various microbes to enhance plant productivity in cropping systems although their successful field application may be impaired by several biotic and abiotic constraints. In the present work, we aimed at developing multifunctional synthetic microbial consortia to be used in combination with suitable bioactive compounds for improving crop yield and quality. Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) with different functional attributes were identified by a bottom-up approach. A comprehensive literature survey on PGPMs associated with maize, wheat, potato and tomato, and on commercial formulations, was conducted by examining peer-reviewed scientific publications and results from relevant European projects. Metagenome fragment recruitments on genomes of potential PGPMs represented in databases were also performed to help identify plant growth-promoting (PGP) strains. Following evidence of their ability to coexist, isolated PGPMs were synthetically assembled into three different microbial consortia. Additionally, the effects of bioactive compounds on the growth of individually PGPMs were tested in starvation conditions. The different combination products based on microbial and non-microbial biostimulants (BS) appear worth considering for greenhouse and open field trials to select those potentially adoptable in sustainable agriculture.
Highlights
Soil microbial applications are a supportive strategy for sustainable management fostering the reduction of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in agriculture [1,2].Soil indigenous and artificially applied plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), the so-called plant probiotics [3–5], show an important role in promoting soil fertility and enhancing plant health due to their ability to improve crop productivity and nutritional quality [6], as well as plants’ resistance to pathogens and environmental stresses [7] and plants’ tolerance to abiotic stresses [8]
The literature survey showed that several Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) can be used effectively to promote plant growth in normal and stressful environments; their real effectiveness under field conditions could hardly be evaluated due to the high variability in the efficacy and reproducibility in several environmental conditions
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to increasing doubts about possible impacts of intensive, non-sustainable agriculture on the general equilibrium of man, animals, and nature [12]
Summary
Soil indigenous and artificially applied plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), the so-called plant probiotics [3–5], show an important role in promoting soil fertility and enhancing plant health due to their ability to improve crop productivity and nutritional quality [6], as well as plants’ resistance to pathogens and environmental stresses [7] and plants’ tolerance to abiotic stresses [8]. They include a wide variety of microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM-fungi), phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, PGP rhizobacteria, actinomycetes, biocontrol strains, and endophytic bacteria [9], and vary from broader soil beneficial microorganisms through to specialized epiphytes and endophytes [10]. The prolonged survival of applied microorganisms and the persistence of their effectiveness are objectives to be pursued by scientific research
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