Aug 2026· Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology· 0 citations
TL;DR
The roles of bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae and cyanobacteria in nutrient cycling, soil fertility improvement, plant growth promotion, biological nitrogen fixation, disease suppression and pollutant degradation are examined.
Abstract
Microbial biotechnology provides sustainable approaches for improving agricultural productivity and supporting environmental remediation through the use of beneficial microorganisms and their metabolic functions. This review examines the roles of bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae and cyanobacteria in nutrient cycling, soil fertility improvement, plant growth promotion, biological nitrogen fixation, disease suppression and pollutant degradation. Microbial applications in agriculture include biofertilisers, plant growth-promoting microorganisms, biocontrol agents and stress-mitigation strategies that can reduce dependence on chemical inputs while supporting soil health and crop performance. In environmental management, microorganisms contribute to the biodegradation of organic pollutants, detoxification of pesticides and agrochemicals, heavy metal immobilisation or removal, wastewater treatment and plant-assisted remediation of contaminated ecosystems. The review also considers emerging technologies, including metagenomics, multi-omics approaches, synthetic biology, genome editing, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, microbial consortia and microbiome engineering, which are improving the identification, characterisation and optimisation of microbial functions for targeted applications. These tools are increasingly relevant for precision agriculture, climate-smart farming and sustainable remediation because they allow microbial communities and functional traits to be assessed with greater resolution across diverse management contexts. Although these developments have expanded the practical scope of microbial biotechnology, several constraints continue to limit field-level adoption, including variable performance under natural conditions, ecological and biosafety concerns, regulatory complexity, product quality issues, economic barriers and limited stakeholder awareness. Overall, the manuscript highlights the relevance of microbial biotechnology for sustainable agriculture and environmental restoration while emphasising the need for interdisciplinary research, responsible implementation, supportive policies and improved translation of laboratory findings into reliable field applications.
Plant-growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) have emerged as important biological tools for improving plant nutrition, crop productivity, soil health, and resilience to environmental stresses, contributing to more resource-efficient agricultural systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in PGPM research, with particular emphasis on next-generation microbial technologies, including synthetic microbial communities, advanced bioformulations, omics-based approaches, precision agriculture, and their contribution to the circular bioeconomy. This review combines a narrative synthesis with a bibliometric analysis based on a dataset of 801 English-language articles and review papers retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on 22 May 2026. Bibliometric mapping identified a rapidly expanding and increasingly interdisciplinary research landscape centered on microbial biostimulants, biofertilizers, circular economy, soil health, microbiome engineering, and climate-smart agriculture. This narrative synthesis highlights that advances in multi-omic technologies, microbiome research, and formulation strategies are improving our understanding of plant–microbe interactions and supporting the development of more targeted microbial products. At the same time, widespread agricultural implementation remains constrained by inconsistent field performance, limited ecological validation, formulation challenges, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and insufficient long-term biosafety assessments. Future research should prioritize long-term field validation across diverse agroecosystems, standardized efficacy and safety evaluation, integration of artificial intelligence with multi-omics datasets, development of ecologically reliable microbial consortia, and regulatory harmonization to facilitate responsible commercialization.
Danka Kiperović, Vera Karličić, Gordana Racić et al.· Agriculture· 0 citations
The greatest way to establish sustainable agriculture practices globally is through consortiums and microbial fertilizers, which significantly increases crop and soil productivity under high stress.
With the increasing global population and mounting pressures on resources and the environment, sustainable forestry production has become a key approach for maintaining ecosystem stability, enhancing carbon sequestration and preserving biodiversity. This review summarizes the current applications, challenges and future perspectives of beneficial microorganisms in sustainable forestry. beneficial microorganisms enhance plant and tree growth, stress resistance, and soil health through nutrient cycling, regulation of plant hormones, and gene expression. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), endophytic bacteria, and specific plant growth-promoting microbial consortia demonstrate significant potential in improving nutrient uptake, salt and drought tolerance, and disease resistance. However, the practical application of beneficial microorganisms in forestry is constrained by multiple translational barriers, including low colonization stability, strong environmental heterogeneity, and limited persistence of introduced microorganisms. Using Chinese fir (
Cunninghamia lanceolata
), a major plantation species in subtropical China, as a representative case, this review further illustrates how nutrient limitation, biotic stresses, and soil degradation interact with microbial processes and influence forest sustainability. Lessons from agricultural microbial applications, including crop rotation, mixed-species plantations, and biofertilizer management, provide valuable insights for optimizing microbial community structures to enhance tree growth and ecological adaptability. Integrating these approaches with microbiome-based management strategies offers promising pathways to overcome current limitations in forestry systems. Future research should focus on exploring and applying functional rhizosphere microbes, designing synthetic microbial communities, and investigating the interactions between tree species diversity and microbial communities, offering theoretical and technical support for sustainable forestry production.
Wenjun Du, Zhanling Wang, Yang Du et al.· Plant growth regulation (Pri...· 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
Sustainable agriculture is increasingly challenged by soil degradation, environmental pollution, and climate change, necessitating the pragmatic and eco-friendly approach. This review systematically synthesizes the role of biochar as multifunctional soil management strategy in enhancing soil health and sustainable environmental management, with particular emphasis on the critical roles of feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions in governing biochar performance. To address existing knowledge gaps, we comprehensively evaluate recent available literature on biochar-based environmental remediation, focusing on key indicators of agricultural sustainability, including nutrients availability, soil biological activity, climate change mitigation, biochar-assisted phytostabilization, and crop productivity. Current evidence indicates that biochar application can achieve a net negative carbon footprint, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and heavy metal contamination, and improve soil structure, fertility, and overall crop productivity on sustainable-basis. However, these benefits largely depend upon the various important biochar production factors including feedstock source, pyrolysis temperature, biochar stability, residence time, rate of application, and soil pH. Beyond its function as a soil amendment, biochar also serves as a multifunctional resource contributing to bioenergy production, waste reduction, and long-term carbon sequestration. At the same time, this review identifies critical research gaps, including the long-term field performance of biochar, mechanisms underlying the interactions between biochar and agronomic practices, and the environmental and human health risks associated with large-scale agricultural applications. Overall, this work highlights the importance of feedstock selection and pyrolysis parameters in designing biochar for environmental remediation and outlines future research directions to refine biochar engineering, application guidelines, and risk assessment frameworks for its sustainable use.
Ismail Khan, Faming Wang, Abdul Rehman et al.· International journal of phy...· 0 citations
Agricultural systems are increasingly challenged by climate change, resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and the need to ensure food security for a growing global population. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires innovative, science-driven approaches that enhance productivity while promoting ecological sustainability. This editorial examines the evolving role of plant biotechnology as a key driver of modern agricultural advancement, highlighting recent developments in genomics, multi-omics technologies, molecular breeding, genome editing, plant tissue culture, and digital agriculture. It discusses how these technologies contribute to the development of resilient crop varieties with improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, and superior agronomic performance. The editorial further emphasizes the integration of artificial intelligence, high-throughput phenotyping, bioinformatics, and systems biology into precision crop improvement, enabling more efficient translation of molecular discoveries into field applications. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, responsible innovation, biosafety, and science-based regulatory frameworks is also considered in supporting the sustainable deployment of emerging biotechnologies. Looking ahead, the convergence of advanced molecular tools with computational and ecological sciences is expected to accelerate the development of resilient agricultural systems capable of addressing future environmental and food production challenges. Continued investment in research, technological innovation, and international collaboration will be essential to maximize the societal and environmental benefits of next-generation crop improvement strategies.
Md. Mosharraf Hossen· Journal of Agriculture and F...· 0 citations