Forests are an essential component of the natural environment, as they support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles—in addition to producing organic matter that is necessary for the function of terrestrial organisms. Forests today are subject to threats ranging from natural occurrences, such as lightning-ignited fires, storms, and some forms of pollution, to those caused by human beings, such as land-use conversion (deforestation or intensive agriculture). In recent years, threats from pests and pathogens, particularly non-native species, have intensified in forests. The damage, decline, and mortality caused by insects, fungi, pathogens, and combinations of pests can lead to sizable ecological, economic, and social losses. To combat forest pests and pathogens, biocontrol may be an effective alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This review of forest pests and potential adversaries in the natural world highlights microbial inoculants, as well as research efforts to further develop biological control agents against forest pests and pathogens. Recent studies have shown promising results for the application of microbial inoculants as preventive measures. Other studies suggest that these species have potential as fertilizers.

In addition to changing global demography and global warming, agricultural production systems around the world are threatened by intensive agricultural practices (overuse of land and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides) that deplete soils by affecting their dynamics and their fertility, pollute the environment, lower production, and alter biodiversity on a large scale. The use of bioformulations based on PGPMs (plant growth-promoting microorganisms) seems to be a promising and sustainable strategy to overcome these threats, thanks to their tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses and via their beneficial effects in promising plant growth, pest protection, bioremediation, and restoration of degraded lands. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to encapsulated formulations because they offer several advantages over conventional bioformulation (liquid and solid) related to shelf life, problems of survival and viability in the environment, and the efficiency of rhizospheric colonization. This review focuses on the types of encapsulations and the different technologies used in this process as well as the most commonly used substrates and additives. It also provides an overview on the application of encapsulated bioformulations as biofertilizers, biopesticides, or other biostimulators and summarizes the knowledge of the scientific literature on the development of nanoencapsulation in this sector.

Cellulose represents the most abundant component of plant biomass on earth; it is degraded by cellulases, specific enzymes produced by microorganisms. However, cellulases of bacterial origin attract more interest due to their natural diversity and ability to inhabit a variety of niches, allowing the selection of cellulolytic strains resistant to environmental stresses. The screening of the cellulolytic activity of 398 bacteria isolated from various ecosystems in Algeria (cave, ruins, chott, thermal station, and rhizosphere of arid and semi-arid regions) was performed by the appearance of a hydrolysis zone on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) medium. The cellulase activity on CMC (1%) broth allowed to select 26 strains among which 12 had the best activity (0.3 U/mL to 2.2 U/mL). Optimization of physicochemical parameters (salinity: 0–1 M NaCl; pH: 3, 4, 7, 9, and 11; temperature: 30, 45, and 50 °C; PEG8000: 0 and 30%) involved in growth and cellulose production showed that the majority of strains were mesophilic, neutrophilic, or alkali- tolerant and tolerant to 30% of PEG8000. The cellulase activity and stability under different stress allowed to retain five strains, which the most efficient. Based on the 16S-rRNA sequencing results, they belonged to the genus Bacillus. The physicochemical properties of cellulases (crude extract) showed a CMCase active over a wide range of pH (4 to 11), optimal at 50 °C and 60 °C. The inhibiting salinity effect on the activity was not detected and was negligible on the enzymatic stability. The residual CMCase activity remained between 40 and 70% in a temperature range between 40 and 70 °C, was stable over a wide range of saline concentrations (0–2000 mM), and was weakly affected at 30% of PEG8000. The crude enzyme extract was able to hydrolyze both soluble and insoluble cellulosic substrates. The evaluation of the hydrolysis capacity of lignocellulosic waste revealed the ability of tested strains to degrade wheat bran, barley bran, and corncob. In addition, the enzyme showed significant multi-stress resistance on solid and liquid media. By these characteristics, these cellulolytic bacteria could be attractive to be used in various industrial and biotechnology applications.