Microbial bioformulation: a microbial assisted biostimulating fertilization technique for sustainable agriculture.

Addressing the pressing issues of increased food demand, declining crop productivity under varying agroclimatic conditions, and the deteriorating soil health resulting from the overuse of agricultural chemicals, requires innovative and effective strategies for the present era. Microbial bioformulation technology is a revolutionary, and eco-friendly alternative to agrochemicals that paves the way for sustainable agriculture. This technology harnesses the power of potential microbial strains and their cell-free filtrate possessing specific properties, such as phosphorus, potassium, and zinc solubilization, nitrogen fixation, siderophore production, and pathogen protection. The application of microbial bioformulations offers several remarkable advantages, including its sustainable nature, plant probiotic properties, and long-term viability, positioning it as a promising technology for the future of agriculture. To maintain the survival and viability of microbial strains, diverse carrier materials are employed to provide essential nourishment and support. Various carrier materials with their unique pros and cons are available, and choosing the most appropriate one is a key consideration, as it substantially extends the shelf life of microbial cells and maintains the overall quality of the bioinoculants. An exemplary modern bioformulation technology involves immobilizing microbial cells and utilizing cell-free filters to preserve the efficacy of bioinoculants, showcasing cutting-edge progress in this field. Moreover, the effective delivery of bioformulations in agricultural fields is another critical aspect to improve their overall efficiency. Proper and suitable application of microbial formulations is essential to boost soil fertility, preserve the soil's microbial ecology, enhance soil nutrition, and support crop physiological and biochemical processes, leading to increased yields in a sustainable manner while reducing reliance on expensive and toxic agrochemicals. This manuscript centers on exploring microbial bioformulations and their carrier materials, providing insights into the selection criteria, the development process of bioformulations, precautions, and best practices for various agricultural lands. The potential of bioformulations in promoting plant growth and defense against pathogens and diseases, while addressing biosafety concerns, is also a focal point of this study.

Growth, oil and physiological parameters of three mint species grown under saline stress levels.

Salinity stress is known to have a detrimental effect on mint plants. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible effects of salinity stress on Mentha spicata, Mentha piperita and Mentha arvensis. Plants were exposed to salinity stress using different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 mM). Under salinity stress, plant growth, oil yield, content and composition, as well as physiological parameters were adversely affected. Among the studied species, M. arvensis experienced the maximum loss in terms of oil percentage. Physiological characteristics and oil composition were significantly affected with intensification of salt stress. For instance, in M. spicata, with increasing salinity stress, piperitone oxide was decreased from 78.4% in control to 38.0% in 150 mM NaCl, whereas menthol was increased from 1.0 to 37.1%. Moreover, in M. piperita, menthone, isomenthone and limonene were all increased in low stress and then were decreased in high stress conditions. In M. arvensis, the major compound; menthol was not affected but the content of menthone increased. It could be concluded that the salinity stress is detrimental but might be useful and may be recommended as an appropriate approach in improving the oil quality or to producing specific compounds under mild or moderate stress.

An insight on microbial degradation of benzo[a]pyrene: current status and advances in research.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon produced as a result of incomplete combustion of organic substances. Over the years, the release of BaP in the atmosphere has increased rapidly, risking human lives. BaP can form bonds with DNA leading to the formation of DNA adducts thereby causing cancer. Therefore addressing the problem of its removal from the environment is quite pertinent though it calls for a very cumbersome and tedious process owing to its recalcitrant nature. To resolve such issues many efforts have been made to develop physical and chemical technologies of BaP degradation which have neither been cost-effective nor eco-friendly. Microbial degradation of BaP, on the other hand, has gained much attention due to added advantage of the high level of microbial diversity enabling great potential to degrade the substance without impairing environmental sustainability. Microorganisms produce enzymes like oxygenases, hydrolases and cytochrome P450 that enable BaP degradation. However, microbial degradation of BaP is restricted due to several factors related to its bio-availability and soil properties. Technologies like bio-augmentation and bio-stimulation have served to enhance the degradation rate of BaP. Besides, advanced technologies such as omics and nano-technology have opened new doors for a better future of microbial degradation of BaP and related compounds.

Biotechnological tools to elucidate the mechanism of pesticide degradation in the environment.

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, households, and industries; however, they have caused severe negative effects on the environment and human health. To clean up pesticide contaminated sites, various technological strategies, i.e. physicochemical and biological, are currently being used throughout the world. Biological approaches have proven to be a viable method for decontaminating pesticide-contaminated soils and water environments. The biological process eliminates contaminants by utilizing microorganisms' catabolic ability. Pesticide degradation rates are influenced by a variety of factors, including the pesticide's structure, concentration, solubility in water, soil type, land use pattern, and microbial activity in the soil. There is currently a knowledge gap in this field of study because researchers are unable to gather collective information on the factors affecting microbial growth, metabolic pathways, optimal conditions for degradation, and genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic changes caused by pesticide stress on the microbial communities. The use of advanced tools and omics technology in research can bridge the existing gap in our knowledge regarding the bioremediation of pesticides. This review provides new insights on the research gaps and offers potential solutions for pesticide removal from the environment through the use of various microbe-mediated technologies.