Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) represent a promising strategy for enhancing plant resilience and yields under drought-stress conditions. This study isolated and characterized PGPR from wheat rhizosphere soil in Egypt. Four PGPR strains were evaluated for an array of plant growth-promoting traits, including IAA production, biofilm formation, siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, ACC deaminase activity, phosphate solubilization, and antagonistic potential. Molecular identification via 16S rRNA sequencing classified three isolates (MMH101, MMH102, and MMH103) within the Bacillus genus and one isolate (MMH104) as Myroides sp. Greenhouse experiments examined the effects of PGPR inoculation on the drought-stressed Egyptian wheat cultivar, Gimmeza-9. Wheat plants inoculated with PGPR isolates showed dramatic improvements in growth parameters and stress tolerance indicators compared to non-inoculated controls when subjected to a 10-day drought period, with Bacillus rugosus (MMH101) inoculation resulting in increases of 61.8% in fresh biomass, 77.2% in dry biomass, 108.5% shoot length, and 134.9% root length. PGPR treatments also elevated the chlorophyll and proline content while reducing malondialdehyde levels. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of PGPR inoculation in enhancing the morphology, physiology, and drought stress resilience of wheat. Isolated PGPR strains hold promise as biofertilizers for improving cereal productivity under water-deficit conditions.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp., is a widespread and serious fungal disease that affects wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation worldwide. Its rapid development, high adaptability, and ability to cause significant yield losses threaten global food security. Although conventional breeding strategies play a role, they are limited by the evolutionary dynamics of the pathogen. Therefore, genomic and molecular approaches have been employed to improve resistance breeding techniques. This review summarizes relevant research findings on the pathogenicity of Pst and the genetic basis of resistance to stripe rust, categorized as all-stage resistance (ASR) and adult plant resistance (APR). More than 300 QTLs and 86 yellow rust ( Yr ) resistance genes have been identified through marker-assisted selection (MAS), quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Meta-QTL analyses have advanced to the point where fine-tuning candidate gene regions across different backgrounds is possible, facilitating marker-assisted breeding in closed systems. In addition, genomic selection (GS) enables the combined use of major and minor resistance loci when selecting for multiple traits, allowing rapid gene pyramiding to improve durability. Recent developments in CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and pan-genomics offer the opportunity to induce a broad spectrum of durable resistance in elite wheat lines. Collectively, these integrative genomic approaches hold promise for sustainable strategies to combat the persistent threat of stripe rust and protect wheat production worldwide.

Background: Sustainable agriculture requires the development of approaches that complement traditional management and breeding options to reduce the negative impact of abiotic stress factors on yields. Trichoderma harzianum is an important biocontrol agent commonly used to improve plant growth, nutrient uptake and resistance to abiotic stress. It is well characterized and has been shown to confer stress tolerance in sevanalyzed for molecular and biochemical adaptations mm disk of preheatederal other microbes, including some Trichoderma species. We explored genetic and proteomic changes related to heat stress resistance in T. harzianum, which indirectly supports improved biocontrol under harsh environments. Results: While the viability of the parent T. harzianum strains sharply decreased after exposure to extreme stress, the recovered strain exhibited significantly enhanced growth post-recovery, indicating stress adaptation. The recovered strain was analyzed for molecular and biochemical adaptations. Furthermore, high adaptability was observed as 50–58% of polymorphism was confirmed by genetic analysis. Consistently, two HSPs at 120 KDa and 131 KDa were found to be associated with preferentially accelerated stress tolerance. Conclusions: The heat‐treated T. harzianum strains developed in this study exhibit increased abiotic stress tolerance compared to conventionally developed strains and appear to be most suitable for biocontrol in difficult agricultural environments. These results will pave the way for the development of microbes that maintain resilience to climate variability for sustainable agricultural applications.

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are a major problem in regions of the world where maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food. Exploiting the natu