Beneficial Microorganisms in Sustainable Agriculture: Harnessing Microbes’ Potential to Help Feed the World

The global population is projected to increase to near 10 billion people by the year 2050 [...

Genomic Insight into a Potential Biological Control Agent for <i>Fusarium</i>-Related Diseases in Potatoes: <i>Bacillus cabrialesii</i> Subsp. <i>cabrialesii</i> Strain PE1

Bacillus strain PE1, which was isolated from potatoes harvested in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico, was evaluated as a potential biological control agent against Fusarium languescens. The draft genome sequence was obtained through Illumina NovaSeq sequencing, revealing a genomic size of 4,071,293 bp, with a G + C content of 44.13%, an N50 value of 357,305 bp, and 27 contigs. The taxonomic affiliation was confirmed by analyzing the 16S rRNA gene and overall genome relatedness indices (OGRIs) and constructing a phylogenomic tree based on the whole genome, which showed a close relationship to Bacillus cabrialesii subsp. cabrialesii. Genomic annotation using RAST and Prokka identified 4261 coding DNA sequences (CDSs) distributed across 331 subsystems, highlighting genes associated with biocontrol, stress response, and iron acquisition. AntiSMASH 7.1 was used for genome mining, revealing seven biosynthetic gene clusters that potentially produce biocontrol-related metabolites. In vitro assays confirmed the antagonistic activity of strain PE1 against Fusarium languescens CE2, demonstrating its potential to inhibit mycelial growth. The study provides a genomic basis for investigating B. cabrialesii subsp. cabrialesii PE1 as a potential biological control agent in potato production

Colmena: colección de microorganismos edáficos y endófitos nativos, para contribuir a la seguridad alimentaria nacional

COLMENA(www.itson.mx/colmena), is a collection of microorganisms focused on the conservation, classification, characterization, and transfer of native microorganisms isolated from diverse agro-systems, and other habitats. The objective of this collection is to protect the microbial diversity associated with changes in land use, reducing the degradation of soils. So far, soil microorganisms from two important agricultural regions in Mexico have been isolated, the Yaqui Valley, Sonora and the ValleyofFuerte, Sinaloa. Currently, COLMENAconserves approximately 1446 strains of soil microorganisms associated with various agricultural crops, such as: wheat (448), corn (313), alfalfa (54), broccoli (51), beans (35), among others. Recently, the taxonomic classification of 353 bacterial and fungal strains-through the amplification of the 16S RNAr and 5.8S RNAr genes-has been concluded, noting that the most abundant bacterial genera are Bacillus(27%), Pseudomonas(8%) and Stenotrophomonas. (6%), while the most abundant fungal genera were Aspergillus(8%), Penicillium(3%) and Myrothecium(3%). On the other hand, the metabolic characterization of a fraction of the collection was also carried out, finding that 3% of the microbial collection has the capacity to produce indoles (> 5 mg/L), the solubilization of phosphorus and the production of siderophores it was observed in 36% and 61% of the strains analyzed (396), respectively. Only 3% of the total microbial collection has been identified as producing cellulases and 11% of a total of 258 strains analyzed showed β-hemolysis. These results show the versatility of these microbial strains as potential cost-effective alternatives for agro-industrial practices, focused on contributing to global food security. Keywords:agriculture, microbial collections, food security, soilCOLMENA(www.itson.mx/colmena), es una colección de microorganismos enfocada en la conservación, clasificación, caracterización, y transferencia de microorganismos nativos aislados de diversos agro-sistemas, y otros hábitats. El objetivo de esta colección es resguardar la diversidad microbiana asociada a los cambios de uso de suelo, disminuyendo la degradación de los suelos. Hasta el momento, microorganismos del suelo de dos importantes regiones agrícolas en México han sido aislados, el Valle del Yaqui, Sonora y el Valle del Fuerte, Sinaloa. Actualmente, COLMENA conserva aproximadamente 1464 cepas de microorganismos edáficos asociadas a diversos cultivos agrícolas, tales como: trigo (448), maíz (313), alfalfa (54), brócoli (51), frijol (35), entre otros.Recientemente, la clasificación taxonómica de 353 cepas bacterianas y fúngicas-mediante la amplificación de los genes 16S RNAr y 5.8S RNAr-ha sido concluida, observando que los géneros bacterianos más abundantes son Bacillus(27%),Pseudomonas (8%)y Stenotrophomonas (6%),mientras que los géneros fúngicos más abundantes fueron Aspergillus (8%), Penicillium(3%) y Myrothecium(3%).Por otra parte, también se llevó a cabo la caracterización metabólica de una fracción de la colección, encontrando que 3% de la colección microbiana tiene la capacidad de producir de índoles (>5 mgL-1), la solubilización de fósforo y producción de sideróforos fue observada en 36% y 61% de las cepas analizadas (396), respectivamente. Solo 3% de la colección microbiana total ha sido identificada como productora de celulasas y 11% de un total de 258 cepas analizadas presentaron β-hemolisis.Estos resultados muestran la versatilidad de estas cepas microbianas como alternativas potenciales costo-efectivas para prácticas agro-industriales, enfocadas a contribuir a la seguridad alimentaria global. Palabras clave: agricultura, colecciones microbianas, seguridad alimentaria, suel

Evaluación de coberteras y herbicidas orgánicos para el manejo de maleza en el valle del Yaqui, Sonora, México

La presencia de maleza es uno de los principales factores que afecta el rendimiento, puede llegar a producir pérdidas de hasta 80% en el rendimiento de un cultivo, además de incrementar los costos de producción y disminuir la calidad de productos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la eficacia de herbicidas orgánicos y coberteras sobre el control de maleza en presiembra de cultivos anuales con el propósito de contribuir al medio ambiente para reducir la dependencia únicamente de herbicidas químicos. El experimento se realizó en el ciclo otoño-invierno en terrenos del CENEB del INIFAP ubicado en el block 910 del Valle del Yaqui, Sonora. Se evaluaron los herbicidas comerciales orgánicos Sec Natural® (BH1), Herbitech® (BH2), Sec Bios® (BH3), Blue Weed® (BH4) y el testigo regional (TR) (Sal isopropilamina de N-(fosfonometil)-glicina). Se evaluó el control a los 7, 14 y 21 días después de la aplicación (DDA), en el caso de las coberteras se evaluó a los 15, 30, 45 y 60 DDA el experimento se realizó mediante un diseño experimental de bloques al azar con tres repeticiones, el análisis de la información se efectuó mediante FAUANL y la técnica de comparación de medias por el método de la diferencia mínima significativa (DMS).&nbsp; Los resultados muestran que la eficacia de los herbicidas orgánicos sobre maleza se manifiesta de manera rápida en dosis altas, ya que desde los 7 días (DDA) a 21 DDA, las dosis 2.0, 4.0 y 6.0 L ha-1 expresaron un control del complejo de maleza arriba del 95 %, esto se considera un buen control en la práctica. Por otra parte, las coberteras de película plástica y de paja de trigo registraron valores del 100 % de eficacia por lo que si se presentó diferencia mínima significativa comparado con el resto de los tratamentos (DMS)

Microencapsulation of <em>Bacillus</em> Strains for Improving Wheat (<em>Triticum turgidum Subsp. durum</em>) Growth and Development

Bio-formulation technologies have a limited impact on agricultural productivity in developing countries, especially those based on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Thus, calcium alginate microbeads were synthesized and used for the protection and delivery of three beneficial Bacillus strains for agricultural applications. The process of encapsulation had a high yield per gram for all bacteria and the microbeads protected the Bacillus strains, allowing their survival, after 12 months of storage at room temperature. Microbead analysis was carried out by observing the rate of swelling and biodegradation of the beads and the released-establishment of bacteria in the soil. These results showed that there is an increase of around 75% in bead swelling on average, which allows for larger pores, and the effective release and subsequent establishment of the bacteria in the soil. Biodegradation of microbeads in the soil was gradual: in the first week, they increased their weight (75%), which consistently results in the swelling ratio. The co-inoculation of the encapsulated strain TRQ8 with the other two encapsulated strains showed plant growth promotion. TRQ8 + TRQ65 and TRQ8 + TE3T bacteria showed increases in different biometric parameters of wheat plants, such as stem height, root length, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Thus, here we demonstrated that the application of alginate microbeads containing the studied strains showed a positive effect on wheat plants

Diversidad metabólica de microorganismos edáficos asociados al cultivo de maíz en el Valle del Yaqui, Sonora

In the Yaqui Valley, like other sites with intensive agriculture, soils have been generated with low content of organic matter (<1.5%), high levels of erosion due to wind events, saline or alkaline soils and low efficiency of fertilizer use. Therefore, new technologies are necessary to maintain the sustainability of the agricultural system through rational exploitation of natural resources and preserving the environment. One of these technologies is the application of biofertilizers based on microorganisms that promote plant growth, which have beneficial effects on the growth and health of plants. Therefore, the objective of this work was to isolate and metabolically characterize edaphic microorganisms associated with the cultivation of corn in said agricultural area. The isolated microorganisms were characterized based on their ability to synthesize indoles, produce siderophores and solubilize phosphates, as well as the presence of ACC deaminase and hemolytic activity. The 96% of isolates synthesized indoles, 78% had the ability to produce siderophores and only 31% solubilized phosphates. Sixty-six promising strains were selected, of which 73 had ACC deaminase activity and 64 were non-hemolytic. Finally, growth promotion trials were carried out with the individual inoculation of 7 bacteria (22B45, 11B20, 53A2, 52B4, 22A67, 13B41 and 41B1), promoting thedevelopment of plants with some strains, mainly with the 53A2 bacteria that produced increases greater than 50% in the aerial dry weight and diameter of the stem in the inoculated plants. Keywords:Zea maysL., indoles, promotion of plant growth, siderophoresEn el Valle del Yaqui, al igual que otros sitios con agricultura intensiva, se han generado suelos con bajo contenido de materia orgánica (<1.5%), altos niveles de erosión por eventos eólicos, suelos salinos o alcalinos y baja eficiencia de aprovechamiento de fertilizantes. Por lo cual son necesarias nuevas tecnologías para mantener la sostenibilidad del sistema agrícola mediante explotación racional de los recursos naturales y preservando el ambiente. Una de estas tecnologías es la aplicación de biofertilizantes a base de microorganismos promotores del crecimiento vegetales, los cuales tienen efectos benéficos sobre el crecimiento y salud de plantas. Por ello, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue aislar y caracterizar metabólicamente microorganismos edáficos asociados al cultivo del maíz en dicha zona agrícola. Los microorganismos aislados fueron caracterizados en base a su capacidad de sintetizar índoles, producir sideróforos y solubilizar fosfatos, así como la presencia de actividad ACC desaminasa y hemolítica.El 96% de los aislados sintetizó índoles, el 78% tuvo la capacidad de producir sideróforos y solamente 31% solubilizó fosfatos. Se seleccionaron 76 cepas promisorias, de las cuales 73 presentaron actividad ACC desaminasa y 64 resultaron no hemolíticas. Finalmente se realizaron ensayos de promoción de crecimiento con la inoculación individual de 7 bacterias(22B45, 11B20, 53A2, 52B4, 22A67, 13B41 y 41B1), logrando promover el desarrollo de las plantas con algunas cepas, principalmente con la bacteria 53A2 que produjo incrementos mayores a 50% en el peso seco aéreo y diámetro del tallo en las plantas inoculadas. Palabras clave: Zea maysL., índoles, promoción de crecimientovegetal, sideróforo

COLMENA: A Culture Collection of Native Microorganisms for Harnessing the Agro-Biotechnological Potential in Soils and Contributing to Food Security

COLMENA is a microbial culture collection dedicated to the characterization, classification, preservation, and transferal of native microorganisms isolated from various agro-systems and other ecosystems in Mexico. This collection aims to protect microbial diversity, reducing soil degradation, but also exploiting its agro-biotechnological potential. So far, COLMENA has isolated and cryopreserved soil microorganisms from different crops in two major agricultural regions in Mexico, the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, and the Fuerte Valley, Sinaloa. COLMENA has specialized in the identification and characterization of microbial strains with metabolic capacities related to the promotion of plant growth and the biocontrol of phytopathogens. Thus, COLMENA has identified several promising plant growth-promoting microbial (PGPM) strains due to their metabolic and genetic potentials and their beneficial effects in vivo and field trials. These findings demonstrate the biotechnological potential of these strains for their future use in profitable agricultural alternatives focused on enhancing global food security. To share the knowledge and results of the COLMENA team’s scientific research, a virtual platform was created, where the database of the studied and preserved microorganisms is available to professionals, researchers, agricultural workers, and anyone who is interested

Plant Growth Stimulation by Microbial Consortia

Plant-associated microorganisms play an important role in agricultural production. Although various studies have shown that single microorganisms can exert beneficial effects on plants, it is increasingly evident that when a microbial consortium—two or more interacting microorganisms—is involved, additive or synergistic results can be expected. This occurs, in part, due to the fact that multiple species can perform a variety of tasks in an ecosystem like the rhizosphere. Therefore, the beneficial mechanisms of plant growth stimulation (i.e., enhanced nutrient availability, phytohormone modulation, biocontrol, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance) exerted by different microbial players within the rhizosphere, such as plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and fungi (such as Trichoderma and Mycorrhizae), are reviewed. In addition, their interaction and beneficial activity are highlighted when they act as part of a consortium, mainly as mixtures of different species of PGPB, PGPB–Mycorrhizae, and PGPB–Trichoderma, under normal and diverse stress conditions. Finally, we propose the expansion of the use of different microbial consortia, as well as an increase in research on different mixtures of microorganisms that facilitate the best and most consistent results in the field

Abiotic stress tolerance of microorganisms associated with oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora

The impact of agricultural activities on microbial communities and environmental parameters was evaluated in two different soil samples. One sample corresponded to soil designated to oregano cultivation and the other one to native soil, both located in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora. The objective of this study was to estimate the microbial diversity in both soil samples, evaluating isolates obtained under three stress conditions: temperature, salinity and pesticide resistance, as well as using metabolic tests to evaluate their potential capabilities as plant growth promoting bacteria. The bacterial population was 5.9×106 and 3.8×106 CFU/g dry soil, in the native and oregano-designated soil, respectively. A total of twenty-four bacteria and one actinobacterium were isolated. Native soil microorganisms presented higher values for fungicide tolerance and indoleacetic acid production; however, temperature stress, salinity resistance, siderophore production and phosphate solubilization were higher for microorganisms isolated from the agricultural soil. These results demonstrate the impact of land use on microbial communities and their potential eco-functional roles