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BACKGROUND Wheat is a valuable food source that is exposed to many diseases that reduce its quantity and quality. One of the most important diseases affecting wheat is take‐all, caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. The application of bacterial inoculants into the soil can increase plant nutrient absorption and enhance the efficiency of probiotic bacteria. For increased beneficial bacteria efficiency, the encapsulation technique has been used in agriculture. RESULTS The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) indicated that the prepared formulation is a mixture of gellan and chitosan. Using SEM, the spherical structure of the microcapsules was confirmed. It was observed that the increase in bacterial release was gradual, and the highest amount of bacteria was released (109 CFU mL–1) on the 50th day. Greenhouse experiments showed that plants treated with S. fulvissimus Uts22 microcapsules had the highest efficiency with 90% disease control. Moreover, the highest fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots were observed in this treatment. CONCLUSION In this study, a new type of formulation aiming at controlling wheat take‐all disease was developed through bacterial and nanoparticles loaded chitosan‐ gellan gum microcapsules with spray drying method. This formulation has many advantages, such as a large surface area and high internal porosity and increased water‐holding capacity, while it also provides a proper habitat for bacteria to increase colonization rates and offers protection of the soil. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

The use of biofertilizers, including biocontrol agents such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus in agriculture can increase soil characteristics and plant acquisition of nutrients and enhancement the efficiency of manure and mineral fertilizer. Despite the problems that liquid and solid formulations have in maintaining the viability of microbial agents, encapsulation can improve their application with extended shelf-life, and controlled release from formulations. Research into novel formulation methods especially encapsulation techniques has increased in recent years due to the mounting demand for microbial biological control. The application of polymeric materials in agriculture has developed recently as a replacement for traditional materials and considered an improvement in technological processes in the growing of crops. This study aims to overview of types of biopolymers and methods used for encapsulation of living biological control agents, especially microbial organisms.