Contribution of Biofertilizers to Pulse Crops: From Single-Strain Inoculants to New Technologies Based on Microbiomes Strategies

Abstract

Pulses provide distinct health benefits due to their low fat content and high protein and fiber contents. Their grain production reaches approximately 93,210 × 103 tons per year. Pulses benefit from the symbiosis with atmospheric N2-fixing bacteria, which increases productivity and reduces the need for N fertilizers, thus contributing to mitigation of environmental impact mitigation. Additionally, the root region harbors a rich microbial community with multiple traits related to plant growth promotion, such as nutrient increase and tolerance enhancement to abiotic or biotic stresses. We reviewed the eight most common pulses accounting for almost 90% of world production: common beans, chickpeas, peas, cowpeas, mung beans, lentils, broad beans, and pigeon peas. We focused on updated information considering both single-rhizobial inoculation and co-inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. We found approximately 80 microbial taxa with PGPR traits, mainly Bacillus sp., B. subtilis, Pseudomonas sp., P. fluorescens, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and that contributed to improve plant growth and yield under different conditions. In addition, new data on root, nodule, rhizosphere, and seed microbiomes point to strategies that can be used to design new generations of biofertilizers, highlighting the importance of microorganisms for productive pulse systems.

Functional traits and phylogenetic analysis of top-soil inhabiting rhizobacteria associated with tea rhizospheres in North Bengal, India

“…Previous researchers have found that application of rhizobacteria derived from the soil rhizosphere significantly improved plant growth and increased yield in various tea cultivars under greenhouse or nursery conditions ( Chakraborty et al., 2013 ; Dutta and Thakur, 2017 ). In addition, rhizobacterial application in other cultivated crops increased crop yield and also prevented from fungal disease attack ( Kaymak et al., 2023 ; Xavier et al., 2023 ; Ferioun et al., 2023 ). In the present investigation, we have evaluated PGP activity of the five selected rhizobacteria, namely M. barkeri BPATH02, B. subtilis BNLG01, B. paramycoides BOK01, B. subtilis OKAKP01, and S. maltophilia BSEY01 based on their promising in vitro PGP activity on a tea cultivar TV22 under nursery conditions.…”

“…Worldwide, researchers developed various bio-products based on PGPRs and applied them to diverse cropping systems, such as vegetables ( Kaymak et al., 2023 ), pulses ( Xavier et al., 2023 ), cereals ( Ferioun et al., 2023 ), oil seed crops ( Urooj et al., 2022 ), and plantations crops ( Dutta and Thakur, 2017 ) as microbial biocontrol and biofertilizer agents. Although, in various cropping systems such as common bean ( Remans et al., 2008 ), wheat ( Upadhyaya et al., 2009 ), rice ( Beneduzi et al., 2008 ), and maize ( Cordero et al., 2012 ) genetic diversity of rhizobacteria/PGPRs has been investigated.…”

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobium Improve Nutrient Uptake and Microbial Diversity Relative to Dryland Site-Specific Soil Conditions

“…Agricultural practices heavily relying on fertilizers and pesticides can deplete soil carbon and fertility, decrease pH, and reduce soil microbial diversity and plant vigor [10][11][12]. Using beneficial microbes is considered a tool to circumvent agricultural intensification [13,14]. Microorganisms have been utilized as biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, and biostimulants over decades.…”

Impact of multiple soil microbial inoculants on biomass and biomass allocation of the legume crop field pea (Fabaceae: Pisum sativum L.)

“…Beneficial soil microorganisms, including plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria, N‐fixing rhizobia, plant growth‐promoting fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), associated with plant roots can directly or indirectly benefit plants by impacting plant nutrition (biofertilizers), growth (biostimulants) or defence against abiotic and biotic stress (biopesticides and bioremediation; Alori et al, 2017; Elnahal et al, 2022; O'Callaghan et al, 2022; Orozco‐Mosqueda et al, 2022), and are being investigated as potential tools to support sustainable agriculture and reduce chemical fertilizer and pesticide inputs (Batista & Singh, 2021; Li et al, 2022; O'Callaghan et al, 2022; Trabelsi & Mhamdi, 2013; Xavier et al, 2023). Given their importance to crop production, there is considerable interest in manipulating the rhizobiome, either by manipulating microbial recruitment via the plant and associated root exudates, or by manipulating the resident microbial community available for recruitment (Elnahal et al, 2022; Khan, 2022; Orozco‐Mosqueda et al, 2022; Ray et al, 2020).…”

“…Field pea, Pisum sativum L. (Fabales: Fabaceae), is an annual, cool season, herbaceous legume that serves as an important source of nutrition for humans and animals (Dahl et al, 2012;Endres & Kandel, 2021;Maxted & Ambrose, 2001;Santos et al, 2019;Xavier et al, 2023) and establishes a symbiotic relationship with N-fixing rhizobia in the Rhizobium leguminosarum species complex (Flores-Félix et al, 2020;Hirsch et al, 2001;Young et al, 2021). Although there is substantial information on N-fixing rhizobia and legumes (Dilworth et al, 2010;Nutman, 1976;Varma et al, 2020), understanding more about how other types of MI impact legumes may contribute to improved, more sustainable production practices (Khan et al, 2010;Xavier et al, 2023). In particular, little is presently known about the efficacy of and interactions of nonrhizobial MI with resident soil biota in field pea (Elnahal et al, 2022;Ibrahim & El-Sawah, 2022;Khan, 2022;O'Callaghan, 2016;Orozco-Mosqueda et al, 2022;Santos et al, 2019).…”