Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) poses a significant threat to global banana production. This systematic review updates current knowledge on the efficacy of various antagonistic microorganisms in controlling Foc, considering the recent spread of this disease to new regions. The studies were systematically analyzed, focusing on methodologies, results, and conclusions to provide a comprehensive overview of current research and its practical implications. A total of 118 studies were reviewed, covering the use of antagonistic microorganisms such as Trichoderma spp., Bacillus spp., Streptomyces spp., and Pseudomonas spp., both in pure cultures and in consortia. Most studies focused on controlling Foc TR4 in Cavendish subgroup bananas and originated from Asia. Microbial consortia demonstrated a higher control percentage with lower variability, particularly in genera such as Pseudomonas. In contrast, pure cultures were more commonly used for Streptomyces. The choice between consortia and pure cultures depends on the genus and the experimental context, as each approach has distinct advantages. Although the reviewed studies were generally of high quality, long-term research is still lacking. Antagonistic microorganisms represent a promising alternative for Foc control, although their efficacy depends on the specific strain and environmental conditions. It has been observed that inoculating these microorganisms onto seedlings before transplantation or in combination with organic matter enhances their effectiveness. Localized testing and formulation optimization are recommended to improve their application as preventive and suppressive tools in soil against infections. The review highlights a vast diversity of microbial agents with high efficacy rates, various modes of action, and additional benefits for plant development beyond Foc biocontrol. Furthermore, some studies achieved 100% control at the plant level under controlled conditions. These findings demonstrate that biological control is a viable alternative for integrated Foc management. Future research should prioritize new approaches that facilitate the widespread adoption of these methodologies, including microbial formulation, field application, and integration with other control methods.

Purple maize has gained global significance due to its numerous nutraceutical benefits. However, sustaining its production typically requires high doses of nitrogen fertilizers, which, when applied in excess, can contaminate vital resources such as soil and water. Inoculation with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, such as those from the Azospirillum genus, has emerged as an alternative to partially or fully replace nitrogen fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the inoculation effect with A. brasilense and varying nitrogen fertilization levels on the yield and quality of purple maize. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement and five replications. Treatments comprised two inoculation levels (control without inoculation and inoculation with A. brasilense) under five nitrogen doses (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg∙ha⁻¹, applied as urea). Inoculation with A. brasilense resulted in a 10.5% increase in plant height, a 16.7% increase in root length, a 21.3% increase in aboveground fresh biomass, a 30.1% increase in root fresh biomass, and a 27.7% increase in leaf nitrogen concentration compared to the non-inoculated control. Regarding yield, the inoculated plants surpassed the control in both purple maize yield (kg∙ha⁻¹) and cob weight by 21.8% and 11.6%, respectively. Across all fertilization levels and parameters assessed, the inoculated treatments outperformed the control. Furthermore, for parameters, namely plant height, leaf nitrogen content, and cob dimensions (length, diameter, and weight), the A. brasilense inoculation treatment with 90 kg N∙ha⁻¹ was statistically equivalent or superior to the non-inoculated control with 120 kg N∙ha⁻¹. These results indicate that inoculation with A. brasilense positively impacted purple maize at all nitrogen levels tested and improved nitrogen use efficiency, enabling a reduction of 30 kg N∙ha⁻¹ without compromising performance in key parameters.

Introduction: This research aims to assess the efficacy of two genera of rhizobacteria from avocado field isolated: Pseudomonas and Bacillus, as plant growth‐promoting microorganisms in Hass avocado trees grafted onto Zutano rootstock.Materials and Methods: The siderophore‐producing and phosphate‐solubilizing capacity of each isolated strain was determined and plant growth‐promoting activity, nutrient accumulation, and nutrient use efficiency in Zutano variety avocado seedlings were evaluated. Molecular identification was carried out by amplification of the 16S rDNA gene of the isolated strains.Results: Pseudomonas putida, Lysinibacillus macroides, Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, were identified as the PGPR of the Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera, predominant in the avocado rhizosphere. There was found 11 phosphate solubilizing strains and 2 siderophore‐producing strains. The phosphate‐solubilizing strains, B. subtilis and P. plecoglossicida, stimulated the growth of Zutano seedlings, increasing their root dry weight (g), stem dry weight (g), leaf dry weight (g) and leaf area (cm²). Significant differences were found in nutrient uptake efficiency between inoculated plants and noninoculated plants. The increase in root biomass responded to greater phosphorus and potassium absorption in plants inoculated with P. plecoglossicida, due to this strain's high phosphate solubilization efficiency (266%).Conclusions: The highest plant growth promotion strains were Bac F (B. subtilis), Bac M (P. plecoglossicida) and P1 (P. putida), which achieved the highest increase in root and leaf dry weight, as well as the highest nutrient extractions and nutrient uptake efficiency.

In Peru, almost 50% of the national agricultural products come from the coast, highlighting the production of avocado. Much of this area has saline soils. Beneficial microorganisms can favorably contribute to mitigating the effect of salinity on crops. Two trials were carried out with var. Zutano to evaluate the role of native rhizobacteria and two Glomeromycota fungi, one from a fallow (GFI) and the other from a saline soil (GWI), in mitigating salinity in avocado: (i) the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, and (ii) the effect of inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on salt stress tolerance. Rhizobacteria P. plecoglissicida, and B. subtilis contributed to decrease the accumulation of chlorine, potassium and sodium in roots, compared to the uninoculated control, while contributing to the accumulation of potassium in the leaves. Mycorrhizae increased the accumulation of sodium, potassium, and chlorine ions in the leaves at a low saline level. GWI decreased the accumulation of sodium in the leaves compared to the control (1.5 g NaCl without mycorrhizae) and was more efficient than GFI in increasing the accumulation of potassium in leaves and reducing chlorine root accumulation. The beneficial microorganisms tested are promising in the mitigation of salt stress in avocado.

Strawberry cultivation requires strategies that maintain or improve its yield within a scheme in which reducing fertilizers and other chemical products can make its consumption safer and more environmentally friendly. This study aims to evaluate the effect of Bacillus subtilis and Rhizophagus intraradices on strawberry growth, yield, and fruit quality. B. subtilis and R. intraradices were inoculated and co-inoculated under three fertilization levels of 225-100-250, 112-50-125, and 0-0-0 kg∙ha⁻¹ of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O. Vegetative growth was evaluated in plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), aerial fresh weight (g), aerial dry weight (g), and plant coverage (%) variables. Fruit quality parameters such as total acidity (g∙100 mL⁻¹), soluble solids (Brix°), and firmness (kg) were also determined, as well as the number of fruits per m² and yield (t∙ha⁻¹). The results showed that the pre-treatment of root immersion in a nutrient solution with B. subtilis and the fractionation of 6 L B. subtilis inoculation per plant at a concentration of 10⁷ CFU∙mL⁻¹, in combination with 225-100-250 kg∙ha⁻¹ of N, P₂O_5, and K₂O, achieved the highest accumulation of dry matter (12.9 ± 1.9 g∙plant⁻¹), the highest number of fruits (28.2 ± 4.5 fruits∙m⁻²), and the highest yield (7.2 ± 1.4 t∙ha⁻¹). In addition, this treatment increased the soluble sugar content by 34.78% and fruit firmness by 26.54% compared to the control without inoculation. This study highlights the synergistic effect of mineral nutrition and microbial inoculation with B. subtilis in increasing strawberry yield and fruit quality.

The Peruvian Amazon faces an increasing threat of soil erosion, driven by unsustainable agricultural practices and accelerated deforestation. In Neshuya (Ucayali region), agricultural activity has intensified since 2014, but the effect on soil erosion is unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the increase in erosion levels, at a sub-basin of the central–eastern Amazon of Peru, in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model was used for assessing the effect of vegetation cover change from 2016 to 2022. In the Neshuya sub-basin (973.4 km²), the average erosion increased from 3.87 to 4.55 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, on average. In addition, there is great spatial variability in the values. In addition, 7.65% of the study area (74.52 km²) exceeds the soil loss tolerance limit (15 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The deforestation rate was 17.99 km² year⁻¹ and by 2022 the forested area reached 237.65 km². In conclusion, the transition from forest to farmland was related to the most critical erosion values. Unsustainable soil management practices can be the underlying explanation of changes in soil chemical and physical properties. Also, social dynamic changes and differences in landscape patterns play a role.