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Microorganisms
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Microorganisms in Agriculture
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Microorganisms in Agriculture

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2024 | Viewed by 1555

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Wen-Ching Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
International Bachelor Program in Agribusiness, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
Interests: soil remediation; soil microbiology; pesticide; environmental toxicology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the pivotal role of microorganisms in enhancing agricultural productivity, sustainability and resilience. Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and protozoa, play diverse and crucial roles in agricultural ecosystems, influencing soil health, plant growth, nutrient cycling, disease suppression and the overall ecosystem functioning.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews and perspectives are welcome. Research areas may include various aspects of microbial involvement in agriculture, including, but not limited to:

  • Crop–Microbe Interactions: Research focusing on the symbiotic and pathogenic interactions between crops and microorganisms, including beneficial associations such as mycorrhizal symbiosis, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and biocontrol agents against plant pathogens.
  • Microbial Biostimulants and Biofertilizers: Exploration of microbial-based products and formulations designed to enhance crop growth, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and overall crop productivity in sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Microbial Control of Crop Diseases: Investigations into the mechanisms underlying microbial biocontrol agents' efficacy against phytopathogens and the development of novel strategies for managing crop diseases while minimizing environmental impacts.
  • Microbial Bioremediation: Studies assessing the potential of microorganisms to degrade pollutants, detoxify soil and mitigate environmental contamination in agricultural settings.
  • Microbial Diversity and Functional Genomics: Utilization of advanced molecular techniques and omics approaches to characterize microbial communities, identify key functional genes and decipher metabolic pathways relevant to agricultural ecosystems.

Dr. Wen-Ching Chen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bio-fertilizer
  • bio-pesticide
  • functional microbes
  • microbial ecology
  • plant growth-promoting microoganism
  • bio-remediation

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 690 KiB  
Article
Response of Arugula to Integrated Use of Biological, Inorganic, and Organic Fertilization
by Aleksandra Stanojković-Sebić, Vladimir Miladinović and Radmila Pivić
Microorganisms 2024, 12(7), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071334 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 306
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of solely and integrated application of inorganic (NPK), commercial organic (NC), and biological (MIX, mixed strains Ensifer meliloti and Azotobacter chroococcum) fertilizers on the chemical characteristics of arugula biomass and its yield, as well as changes in [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effects of solely and integrated application of inorganic (NPK), commercial organic (NC), and biological (MIX, mixed strains Ensifer meliloti and Azotobacter chroococcum) fertilizers on the chemical characteristics of arugula biomass and its yield, as well as changes in soil microbiological parameters after the experiment in relation to the control treatment (Ø). The experiment was performed in semi-controlled greenhouse conditions, in pots, from the 4th decade of March to the 2nd decade of September, in 2023, at three cutting times/swaths, during one agricultural season, with Vertisol soil. For soil characterization, the following parameters were analysed: granulometric composition using sieving and sedimentation procedure; soil acidity—potentiometrically; SOM—soil organic matter by Kotzmann method; total N using CNS analyser; available P—spectrophotometrically; available K—flame photometrically; total number of microorganisms on an agarized soil extract medium; fungi on a solid Czapek agar; actinomycetes on a solid Krasiljnikov agar with saccharose; Azotobacter spp. on a liquid Fyodorov medium with mannitol; ammonifiers on a liquid medium with asparagine; and dehydrogenase activity—spectrophotometrically. For plant characterization, the following parameters were determined: N and C, both on CNS analyser; P on spectrophotometer; K on flame photometer; air-dried yield biomass. A stimulative effect on all microbiological parameters was found in the treatment with integrated use of organic and biological fertilizer, except for fungi, which grew better in the treatments with separate inorganic and organic fertilizers. Generally, the stimulative impact on plant chemical parameters manifested in combined inorganic and biological, organic and biological, and inorganic and organic fertilization treatments, and was inhibited in treatment without fertilization, in all three swaths, which could also be stated for the plant yield. Positive influence of all fertilization treatments on chemical parameters was observed for the second swath in relation to the first and the third. The total yield in the NPK+MIX treatment was 121%, and in the NC+MIX treatment, it was 87% higher compared to the control (Ø). In general, integrated use of inorganic and biological, organic and biological, and inorganic and organic fertilizers, respectively, could be proposed as an optimal fertilization treatment in arugula cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms in Agriculture)
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17 pages, 2682 KiB  
Article
Innovative Microbial Immobilization Strategy for Di-n-Butyl Phthalate Biodegradation Using Biochar-Calcium Alginate-Waterborne Polyurethane Composites
by Xuan-Di Cao, Shih-Hao Jien, Chu-Wen Yang, Yi-Hsuan Lin and Chien-Sen Liao
Microorganisms 2024, 12(7), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071265 - 22 Jun 2024
Viewed by 291
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a prevalent phthalate ester widely used as a plasticizer, leading to its widespread presence in various environmental matrices. This study presents an innovative microbial immobilization strategy utilizing biochar, calcium alginate (alginate-Ca, (C12H14CaO12 [...] Read more.
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a prevalent phthalate ester widely used as a plasticizer, leading to its widespread presence in various environmental matrices. This study presents an innovative microbial immobilization strategy utilizing biochar, calcium alginate (alginate-Ca, (C12H14CaO12)n), and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) composites to enhance the biodegradation efficiency of DBP. The results revealed that rice husk biochar, pyrolyzed at 300 °C, exhibits relatively safer and more stable physical and chemical properties, making it an effective immobilization matrix. Additionally, the optimal cultural conditions for Bacillus aquimaris in DBP biodegradation were identified as incubation at 30 °C and pH 7, with the supplementation of 0.15 g of yeast extract, 0.0625 g of glucose, and 1 CMC of Triton X-100. Algal biotoxicity results indicated a significant decrease in biotoxicity, as evidenced by an increase in chlorophyll a content in Chlorella vulgaris following DBP removal from the culture medium. Finally, microbial community analysis demonstrated that encapsulating B. aquimaris within alginate-Ca and WPU layers not only enhanced DBP degradation, but also prevented ecological competition from indigenous microorganisms. This novel approach showcases the potential of agricultural waste utilization and microbial immobilization techniques for the remediation of DBP-contaminated environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms in Agriculture)
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15 pages, 4103 KiB  
Article
Purpureocillium lilacinum SBF054: Endophytic in Phaseolus vulgaris, Glycine max, and Helianthus annuus; Antagonistic to Rhizoctonia solani; and Virulent to Euschistus heros
by Flávia Melo Moreira, Túlio Iglésias Machado, Caio Augusto Rosado Torres, Hebert Ribeiro de Souza, Matheus Felipe Celestino, Marco Antônio Silva, Giovana Cidade Gomes, Breno Beda dos Reis Cunha, Pedro de Luca Buffon dos Santos, Magno Rodrigues de Carvalho Filho, Marcelo Tavares de Castro and Rose Gomes Monnerat
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061100 - 29 May 2024
Viewed by 571
Abstract
Microorganisms with multiple ecological functions can be a useful biotechnological resource in integrated pest- and disease-management programs. This work aimed to investigate the potential endophytic and virulent effects of a strain of Purpureocillium lilacinum on organic cultivation in Brazil. Specifically, the strain’s ability [...] Read more.
Microorganisms with multiple ecological functions can be a useful biotechnological resource in integrated pest- and disease-management programs. This work aimed to investigate the potential endophytic and virulent effects of a strain of Purpureocillium lilacinum on organic cultivation in Brazil. Specifically, the strain’s ability to establish itself as an endophyte in common bean, soybean, and sunflower plants when inoculated via seed was evaluated. Furthermore, its antifungal activity against phytopathogens and its pathogenicity and virulence against insects of the order Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera were evaluated. Furthermore, the strain was evaluated for its biochemical and physiological characteristics. For virulence bioassays, the experiments were conducted under a factorial scheme (2 × 3), with the following factors: (a) fungal inoculation and control without inoculum and (b) types of inocula (blastospores, aerial conidia, and metabolites). The treatments were sprayed on insect species at different stages of development. In summary, it was found that the SBF054 strain endophytically colonized the common bean, with partial recovery from the root tissues of soybean and sunflower plants, 30 days after inoculation; suppressed 86% of Rhizoctonia solani mycelial growth in an in vitro assay; and controlled eggs, nymphs, and Euschistus heros adults. These multifunctional abilities are mainly attributed to the strain’s mechanisms of producing metabolites, such as organic acids, soluble nutrients, and hydrolytic enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms in Agriculture)
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