Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are obligate endoparasites among the most ‎destructive agricultural worldwide causing substantial yield losses across numerous crops. ‎Current management options are limited, and the overuse of chemical nematicides poses ‎serious risks to human health and the environmental. In this study, a bacterial isolate ‎obtained was investigated as a biocontrol agent against Meloidogyne incognita, identified as ‎Pantoea conspicua strain PC (GeneBank accession no.ON203125) based on 16S rRNA gene ‎sequencing. Exposure of second-stage juveniles (J2s) caused mortality rates of 67.9%, ‎‎94.7%, 97.7%, and 99.3% in M. incognita at 12, 24, 48, and 96 hours after exposure to a ‎‎100% concentration of bacterial filtrate, respectively. In comparison, bacterial pellets ‎resulted in 18.5%, 51.8%, 62.9%, and 82.9% mortality at the same time intervals. Both, the ‎bacterial filtrate and pellets significantly inhibited egg hatchability in vitro. Greenhouse ‎experiment demonstrated that tomato plant treated with the bacterial filtrate or pellets ‎exhibited marked improvements in root and shoot growth parameters. Specifically, the ‎bacterial filtrate caused reduced the number of galls, eggs, and eggmasses per gram of root ‎by 93.12%, 97.9%, and 79.9% respectively, along with a 92.7% decrease in J2s per 250 ‎grams of soil. Overall, P. conspicua strain PC demonstrated high potential as a biocontrol ‎agent, offering advantages in its mode of action, efficacy, and contribution to ongoing ‎nematode management, while also reducing environmental impact and supporting integrated ‎pest management strategies.

Agricultural productivity currently faces challenges such as soil fertility issues, climatic instability, pests and diseases, and anthropization. This drives a shift towards sustainable agricultural practices, including biopreparations—products derived from living organisms or their metabolites that serve as biofertilizers, biopesticides, biostimulants, or biodegradation agents. Among these, the genus Bacillus is a primary candidate for sustainable agriculture; however, this review primarily covers rhizosphere-isolated organisms referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Bacillus strains possess a suite of direct and indirect mechanisms to promote plant development and biocontrol, as well as to tolerate various abiotic stresses. This review aims to describe all the mechanisms attributed to strains of this genus and their impact on different crops to promote plant growth, hormonal regulation (indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and ethylene), tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, heavy metals, salinity and heat stress, as well as resistance to pests and diseases. Furthermore, this work analyzes quantitative data regarding yield improvements and the environmental variables that influence the consistency of Bacillus performance in the field. Finally, to provide a balanced perspective, the review incorporates future directions in research on biosafety and risk assessment frameworks.

There is an urgent demand for sustainable agricultural practices that minimize environmental impacts and reduce the reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Endophytes represent a largely untapped resource of beneficial microorganisms with multiple potential applications as natural biocontrol agents and promoters of plant growth and development. This paper aimed at identifying new fungal strains and performing a series of preliminary in vitro screenings to evaluate their potential use for plant-growth promotion and antifungal activity. A total of 102 fungal endophytes were isolated from different plant tissues of seven wild relatives of barley (Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus sterilis, Elymus farctus, Elymus repens, Leymus arenarius and Lolium perenne) that were sourced from 22 contrasting wild habitats. Fungal endophytes were isolated using standard culture-based methods and identified via DNA barcoding of the nrITS marker. Based on a literature search, a sub-group of endophytes were selected and evaluated for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, ammonia production and phosphorous (P) solubilization. From these, 15 endophytes were also tested for antifungal activity against Ramularia collo-cygni, Pyrenophora teres, and Gaeumannomyces tritici. All the endophytes were positive for ammonia production at variable rates, but no P solubilization nor IAA synthesis without L-tryptophan were observed. On the contrary, five promising isolates (2 Daldinia concentrica, Metapochonia suchlasporia, Chaetomium sp., and Ophiocordyceps sinensis) had mean pathogen growth inhibition rates above 80%, compared to the untreated negative controls. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first published report that investigates natural antagonism against Ramularia collo-cygni and expands the list of endophytic strains with natural antagonism on the tested cereal pathogens. Results are discussed in the context of endophytes application to barley cultivation within the European regulatory framework.

Isolation, characterization and dairy application of a novel bacteriophage fBSPA4 against Salmonella enterica.

Browntop millet (Brachiaria ramose L.), a nutritionally rich and climate-resilient minor millet, is increasingly valued in sustainable agriculture; however, its productivity is severely affected by leaf blight caused by Bipolaris setariae. The present study investigated the potential of endophytic fungi associated with Browntop millet as eco-friendly biocontrol agents for managing this disease. A total of 64 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from healthy plant tissues collected across different agroclimatic zones of Karnataka. Pathogenicity assays confirmed B. setariae as the causal agent of leaf blight. Dual culture assays revealed strong antagonistic activity by several isolates with REF-23 (88.12 %), LEF-63 (86.78 %) and GEF-13 (78.91 %), showing inhibition comparable to the standard biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum. These efficient isolates also exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting and other traits, including phosphate solubilization, ammonia, siderophore production and hydrogen cyanide production. Endophytic fungal isolates from Browntop millet showed strong antagonism against B. setariae, mainly through extracellular hydrolytic enzymes (cellulase, xylanase, amylase and lipase). REF-23 and LEF-63 exhibited the widest enzyme profiles and highest hydrolytic indices, indicating superior mycolytic potential. Molecular identification confirmed the taxonomic diversity of effective endophytes REF-23 and LEF-63 as Paecilomyces lilacinus and Chaetomium spp. respectively. Along with pathogen suppression, these fungi displayed multiple plant growth-promoting traits, highlighting their dual role in disease management and growth enhancement. Overall, Browntop millet-associated endophytic fungi represent promising, eco-friendly bioagents for integrated leaf blight management and sustainable crop productivity.

Introduction Rice bacterial leaf blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae ( Xoo ), is a highly destructive disease. Within the rice- Xoo pathosystem, Pantoea ananatis exhibits a dual role, functioning both as a pathogen and as a biocontrol agent, underscoring the need to clarify its speciffc functions for effective disease management. Methods Isolated strains ZJU1-ZJU18 were identified using multi-locus sequence analysis, core-genome phylogenomic analysis, and average nucleotide identity. The population density of Xoo in rice leaves was determined by plate counting and qPCR to evaluate the inhibitory effect of P. ananatis on its growth. Results and discussion The isolated strains ZJU1-ZJU18 were all identiffed as P. ananatis , and they exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid synthesis. Furthermore, strains ZJU1-ZJU18 did not induce rice bacterial leaf blight symptoms under the experimental conditions, with the lesion inhibition rate against this disease ranging from 95.14 to 97.92%. Mechanistic investigations revealed that P. ananatis suppressed Xoo via nutrient competition, dominating co-culture systems (>90% relative abundance) and reducing Xoo colonization on rice leaves by 96.78–99.00%. Xoo infection enhanced P. ananatis colonization, likely by modifying the leaf microenvironment. Furthermore, the results of species composition analysis showed that P. ananatis could alter the structure and diversity of the microbial community in rice leaves and reduce the abundance of Xanthomonas species. The principal coordinate analysis indicated that P. ananatis had a more signiffcant impact on the microbial community composition than Xoo . This study found that P. ananatis may inhibit the pathogen Xoo through nutrient competition and reshape the microbial structure at the community level.

The utilization of microorganisms as biocontrol agents represents a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. Trichoderma spp. has been identified as a fungus that promotes plant growth and suppresses phytopathogens. Nonetheless, conventional commercial formulations are constrained by factors such as their limited shelf life, environmental sensitivity, and inadequate carrier systems. In this study, Trichoderma harzianum (T22) and T. viride (T18) strains were encapsulated in a hydrogel composed of chitosan, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol, which was prepared by pH-induced gelation via alkaline precipitation. The characterization of the hydrogels was conducted in several domains. Initially, the water absorption of the samples was examined at varying pH values. Secondly, the morphology of the samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and stereo microscopy. Thirdly, the chemical interactions in the hydrogels were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The final stage of the experiment involved assessing the degradation behaviour of the hydrogels in both sterile and inoculated soils. The efficacy of the isolates in protecting chilli plants from Phytophthora capsici was subsequently evaluated. As demonstrated in the extant research, encapsulation techniques have been shown to preserve the viability of fungal organisms and promote their growth after 10 days of storage at ambient temperature. These effects have been observed to exhibit strain-dependent variations. It is noteworthy that hydrogels loaded with T. viride (HT18) induced resistance against P. capsici, resulting in complete symptom suppression and enhanced plant growth, whereas hydrogels loaded with T. harzianum (HT22) showed no protective effect. These results demonstrate the potential of the hydrogel formulated with T18 as an effective carrier, as it maintains Trichoderma spp. viability and protects chilli plants against P. capsici infection.

Marine Arthrobacter enclensis NIO-1008T as a salicylic acid producing biocontrol agent against Fusarium oxysporum

Entomopathogenic soil bacteria as biocontrol agents against Spodoptera litura (Fab): A sustainable approach.

Investigating Wolbachia presence in Anopheles punctulatus group from Papua, Indonesia: Limited evidence of natural infection with molecular markers.

Isolation and application of novel biocontrol agents in the continuous cropping area of garlic (Allium sativum L.).

Biocontrol potential of Metarhizium spp. Against Myzus persicae and beet Mild Yellowing virus in the post-neonicotinoid era.

Phylogeny and evolutionary history of the tribe Scymnini Mulsant, 1846 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) based on a multi-locus dataset, with emphasis on the Asian lineage.

ABSTRACT The biocontrol potential of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson) against greenhouse whitefly (GHWF), Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), was evaluated in the laboratory at 27 ± 2°C, 65 ± 5% RH, and a 16L:8D photoperiod. All larval stages of C. z. sillemi prey on all nymphal instars of GHWF; however, the third instar proved to be the most effective, consuming 349.50, 351.3, 328.9, and 486.4 first, second, third and fourth instars of GHWF nymphs. The total larval duration on various whitefly instars ranged from 9 to 10 days. The mean number of nymphs consumed per day during the whole larval period ranged from 33.52 to 44.05 nymphs, with the highest consumption by the third instar larva. Among different nymphal instars of T. vaporariorum, the predation on first and second instars was significantly higher, by the first instar predator, and on third and fourth instar whitefly nymphs, respectively, by the third instar predator. The first instar C. z. sillemi larvae demonstrated a preference for first (28.78%) and second instar whitefly nymphs (34.67%), whereas the third instar larvae exhibited a preference for third (88.40%) and fourth instar (89.60%) whitefly nymphs. Further, C. z. sillemi exhibited type-II functional response to whitefly nymphs. The third instar larvae of C. z. sillemi had the highest attack rate (0.168) and maximum predation rate (177.926) compared to younger instars. As a result of our findings, the predator C. z. sillemi can be maintained in the laboratory and has the potential to be developed as an efficient biocontrol agent against T. vaporariorum.

Density of Schistocerca cancellata locusts (Orthoptera) affects infection development of Paranosema locustae (Microsporidia).

Bacillus velezensis csuftb-96, an efficient and promising biocontrol agent for managing Diplodia shoot blight caused by Diplodia sapinea.

Genomic characterization of an Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate from the cotton leafworm, Alabama argillacea with cross-species infectivity potential for pest management.

Corrigendum to "Antifungal activity and mechanisms of atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus as potential biocontrol agents against pathogenic fungi in peanuts and corn" [Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 216 (2025) 106760

Quorum sensing in Listeria monocytogenes and control strategies for its inhibition in the food industry.

Use of Pseudomonas lurida QNF3 as a biocontrol agent to control postharvest apple ring rot