Stenotrophomonas in diversified cropping systems: friend or foe?

Abstract

In the current scenario, the use of synthetic fertilizers is at its peak, which is an expensive affair, possesses harmful effects to the environment, negatively affecting soil fertility and beneficial soil microfauna as well as human health. Because of this, the demand for natural, chemical-free, and organic foods is increasing day by day. Therefore, in the present circumstances use of biofertilizers for plant growth-promotion and microbe-based biopesticides against biotic stresses are alternative options to reduce the risk of both synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and microbial biocontrol agents are ecologically safe and effective. Owning their beneficial properties on plant systems without harming the ecosystem, they are catching the widespread interest of researchers, agriculturists, and industrialists. In this context, the genus Stenotrophomonas is an emerging potential source of both biofertilizer and biopesticide. This genus is particularly known for producing osmoprotective substances which play a key role in cellular functions, i.e., DNA replication, DNA-protein interactions, and cellular metabolism to regulate the osmotic balance, and also acts as effective stabilizers of enzymes. Moreover, few species of this genus are disease causing agents in humans that is why; it has become an emerging field of research in the present scenario. In the past, many studies were conducted on exploring the different applications of Stenotrophomonas in various fields, however, further researches are required to explore the various functions of Stenotrophomonas in plant growth promotion and management of pests and diseases under diverse growth conditions and to demonstrate its interaction with plant and soil systems. The present review discusses various plant growth and biocontrol attributes of the genus Stenotrophomonas in various food crops along with knowledge gaps. Additionally, the potential risks and challenges associated with the use of Stenotrophomonas in agriculture systems have also been discussed along with a call for further research in this area.

Biofertilizer and biocontrol properties of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BCM emphasize its potential application for sustainable agriculture

“…, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BCM, was observed to successfully thrive under diverse physicochemical (pH and temperature) and stress conditions (saline, exposure to metal/metalloid, and antibiotic). Survival in diverse environments extended the ubiquitous nature of Stenotrophomonas sp ( Kumar et al., 2023 ). Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BCM harbors a G+C-rich genome of 4519592bps encoding a diverse array of proteins, extending metabolic robustness to the host.…”

“…Several proteins were identified as essential for effective colonization in plant rhizosphere ( Kumar et al., 2023 ). An in-depth analysis of the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BCM genome identifies the presence of genes encoding proteins for the synthesis of Type 1 and IV pili, exopolysaccharide ( Table 3 ) essential for plant surface adhesion, auto-aggregation, and early biofilm formation ( Kumar et al., 2023 ).…”

“…Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a group of diazotrophic bacteria isolated from diverse habitats, predominantly from plant-associated ecosystems ( Pinski et al., 2020 ). Rhizospheric Stenotrophomonas maltophilia species have the potential as biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, pesticide remediation ( Kumar et al., 2023 ), and stress resistance ( Singh and Jha, 2017 ). These studies strengthen the candidature of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BCM as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agent.…”

“…These studies strengthen the candidature of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BCM as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agent. Most of this information was drawn based on experimentation with diverse plant species ( Kumar et al., 2023 ). As a result, it is essential to understand its physiological, genomic, and plant-associated properties to understand its efficiency.…”

“…The potassium-solubilizing microbe like Bacillus edaphicus ( Sheng and He, 2006 ), Bacillus megaterium , Arthrobacter sp ( Keshavarz Zarjani et al., 2013 ), and Paenibacillus glucanolyticus ( Sangeeth et al., 2012 ) enhances plant production. Various microbes were characterized for their plant growth-promoting potential by plant hormone secretion ( Kumar et al., 2023 ), siderophores generation ( Kumar et al., 2023 ), nutrient assimilation ( Fatima and Senthil-Kumar, 2015 ), and biotic and abiotic stress resistance ( Tsukanova et al., 2017 ). Employment of these microbial biofertilizers could fulfill the plant growth requirements for increased crop production.…”