The Rosaceae family includes some of the most economically important fruit and nut crops worldwide, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds. Increasing market demand and climate constraints have intensified reliance on synthetic fertilizers, leading to environmental degradation and reduced ecosystem resilience. In response, sustainable alternatives, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, have gained increasing attention. Here, we review recent findings in the application of these ecofriendly inputs in Rosaceae crops, using almonds (Prunus dulcis) as a representative case study. We highlight the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving nutrient availability, stress tolerance, soil fertility, and crop productivity through mechanisms including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, phytohormone modulation, and enhanced plant defense responses. Evidence from field, greenhouse, and controlled experimental studies has indicated that rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, as well as organic fertilizers, enhance nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, fruit yields, and quality while supporting soil biodiversity and long-term orchard sustainability. Despite their demonstrated benefits, the adoption of biofertilizers and biostimulants in almond orchards remains limited. This review discusses the current challenges, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for integrating microbial-based solutions into sustainable Rosaceae cultivation systems.
Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) is one of the most important ornamental crops because of its aesthetic value, diverse flower forms and commercial significance in the floriculture industry. Sustainable chrysanthemum production has received increasing attention owing to concerns about excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers and the need to maintain soil health and environmental quality. Biofertilizers provide a biologically based approach to improving nutrient availability, plant growth and soil fertility through the activity of beneficial microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate- and potassium-solubilizing microorganisms, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), mycorrhizal fungi and microbial consortia. These microorganisms enhance nutrient cycling, root development, nutrient uptake and plant growth, while also contributing to improved tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and temperature extremes. Biozymes, as organic biostimulant formulations, further support physiological and metabolic processes that promote nutrient utilization, plant vigor and overall crop performance. The combined application of biofertilizers and biozymes through suitable methods, including soil application, seed or cutting treatment, foliar spray and drip irrigation, offers considerable potential for sustainable chrysanthemum cultivation. However, their effectiveness may vary depending on microbial strain, formulation quality, soil characteristics, crop stage and environmental conditions. This review summarizes the mechanisms, applications and benefits of biofertilizers and biozymes in chrysanthemum production and highlights current knowledge gaps and future research needs for developing efficient, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable floriculture systems.
S. Garcha, N. Kaur, Parminder Singh· Archives of Current Research...· 0 citations
The increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices has accelerated the search for alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Microbial biofertilizers, particularly plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), offer a promising strategy to enhance crop productivity while maintaining soil health. Among these, Bacillus species have gained significant attention due to their ecological versatility and functional diversity. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the biofertilization potential of Bacillus spp. in sustainable agriculture. Prominent species such as Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. amyloliquefaciens contribute to improved nutrient acquisition through nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and potassium mobilization. In addition, Bacillus spp. produce phytohormones, siderophores, and volatile organic compounds that stimulate plant growth and enhance tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Their endospore-forming ability ensures high survival, prolonged shelf life, and reliable performance under diverse field conditions, supporting their commercial application as biofertilizers. This review also discusses interactions between Bacillus spp. and native soil microbiota, their influence on rhizosphere dynamics, and their role in improving soil fertility and crop productivity. However, inconsistent field performance, formulation challenges, and regulatory constraints remain key barriers to large-scale adoption. Recent advances in genomics, strain improvement, and formulation technologies present new opportunities to enhance the efficacy of Bacillus-based biofertilizers. Integrative approaches combining microbiology, agronomy, and policy frameworks are essential to realize their full potential in sustainable agricultural systems and global food security.
Soumendranath Chatterjee, Dibyendu Saha, Souvik Bag et al.· Discover Plants· 0 citations
Soil salinization limits global agricultural productivity by affecting growth, nutrient uptake, and crop yield. Microalgae have emerged as a sustainable biotechnological alternative due to their ability to act as biofertilizers and biostimulants. These photosynthetic microorganisms produce phytohormones, amino acids, polysaccharides, and antioxidants that promote plant growth and increase tolerance to saline stress. The objective of this scoping review is to synthesize the available evidence on the potential of microalgae as biofertilizers in crops under salinity, describing their mechanisms of action, most used species, application methods, advantages, limitations, and future perspectives. The collected evidence shows that genera such as Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Dunaliella, Arthrospira, and several cyanobacteria improve nutritional efficiency, increase antioxidant activity, promote ionic balance, and reduce oxidative damage induced by excess salts. Reported applications increase crop yields between 10% and 40%, while nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria can contribute up to 30 kg N ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. Recent molecular studies indicate that microalgal biostimulants regulate the expression of stress-responsive genes, improve osmolyte biosynthesis, and enhance the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. However, important challenges persist regarding formulation standardization, industrial scalability, and the detailed understanding of their molecular mechanisms of action.
R. González Sarmiento, Israel Osuna Flores, Arturo Rafael Armenta López· Revista Científica Arbitrada...· 0 citations
The need for the most up-to-date, environmentally friendly techniques of controlling plant diseases and pests necessitates keeping an eye out for effective tools that provide a safe environment for human and animal fitness. In recent years, the usage of plant biostimulants (BS), which are derived from various organic materials through hydrolysis reactions, has increased. Soil microbes and plants immediately absorb these Biostimulants, which often consist of peptides, amino acids, polysaccharides, humic acids and phytohormones with less energy requirement. This benefits not only growth but also the yield and quality of the harvested grain or fruit. These items are intended to promote and increase plant metabolism, reduce stress, etc., rather than to supply nutrients. These days, a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses hinder plant development, seed germination and seedling growth due to shifting climatic conditions, which reduces biological and economic yields. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) helps plant in mitigating different abiotic stresses and also enhances the adaptability of plants in stress conditions. A variety of PGRs, including ethylene (ET), salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonates (JAs), are linked to improving plants' ability to respond to various stimuli. On the other hand, under both normal and stressful environmental conditions, PGRs like auxin, cytokinins (CKs), gibberellins (GAs) and relatively novel PGRs like strigolactones (SLs) and brassinosteroids (BRs) are engaged in plant growth and development. These PGRs are crucial for regulating stress adaptation through modulates physiological, biochemical and molecular processes and activation of the defense system, upregulating of transcript levels, transcription factors, metabolism genes, and stress proteins at cellular levels.
Dr. Hena Parveen, Dr. Manish Kumar, Dr. Shweta kumari et al.· Genetics and Molecular Resea...· 0 citations
The growing pressure exerted by global food demand, combined with the excessive use of chemical and synthetic inputs, is prompting the agricultural sector to seek innovative and sustainable solutions to improve, or at least maintain, crop yields in a context of increased abiotic stress linked to climate change. Among the promising approaches, biostimulants are attracting growing interest, particularly those derived from natural sources such as seaweed extracts, humic acids, and beneficial microorganisms. These products work through various mechanisms, including osmotic regulation, activation of antioxidant systems, stimulation of root growth, and improvement of nutrient absorption. Many recent research and review articles have explored the optimal combinations of raw materials, formulation processes, target crops, and environmental conditions to maximize beneficial effects on plant growth, soil health, and tolerance to abiotic stresses. As a result, a growing range of commercial products is emerging, with diverse chemical compositions, formulations, and modes of application. However, the precise relationships between the biochemical composition of biostimulants and their physiological effects remain poorly understood, suggesting a key role for molecular synergies. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in biostimulant research and their potential to enhance food security by improving crop resilience in the context of climate change.
Boujemaa Fassih, Raja Ben-Laouane, Abdessamad Fakhech et al.· Sustainability· 1 citation