Biocontrol has emerged as an effective strategy for managing plant pathogens and pests. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as biocontrol agents offers a sustainable alternative, enhancing plant morphology, biochemistry, physiology, and secondary metabolism. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of PGPR-based biocontrol research from 2019 to 2023, using the Web of Science (WoS) database. A total of 2823 publications were identified, with a significant increase in scientific output since 2019. Original research articles dominated the field, with India, China, the USA, and Pakistan leading in publication volume. Key contributors included Babalola (North-West University, South Africa), Kloepper (Auburn University, USA), and Shen (Nanjing Agricultural University, China), each with at least 25 publications. Co-authorship analysis revealed four major research networks centered in India, China, Brazil, and Canada. Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the most studied PGPR genera, recognized for their roles as bioinoculants, bioremediators, and biostimulants, mitigating the negative impacts of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This analysis underscores the growing global focus on PGPR-based biocontrol and its potential for sustainable agriculture. Strengthening international collaboration and accelerating applied research on PGPR formulations will be critical for optimizing their efficacy and scalability in real-world agricultural systems.

A variety of research reports that compost tea controls plant pathogens and improves plant nutrition and plant growth. Therefore, it can be used to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The aim of the study was to characterize and quantify the scientific production in the SCOPUS database on compost tea using bibliometric indicators. A total of 285 published papers related to compost tea were identified. The results show a general increasing trend from 2001 to 2023, with the highest number of publications occurring in 2021. Most of the publications were in the form of original articles, and English was the main language of publication. The top 10 countries with the highest scientific productivity were the United States, Egypt, Spain, Canada, Italy, India, China, Australia, Iran and Malaysia. Zaccardelli, M. and Pane, C. were the authors with the highest productivity with nine articles. In the co-authorship networks, two main networks were registered: the first with Diáñez F., together with Gea F. J., Navarro M.Y. and Santo M., and the second with Zaccardelli M., Celono G., and Pane C. Therefore, the need to adapt more resilient agricultural production systems allows for the consideration of compost tea as an alternative to mitigate environmental problems and soil degradation.

Dasylirion cedrosanum is a native species of the Chihuahuan Desert that is economically important for alcohol production, which has caused its looting and deforestation. In the micropropagation technique, the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium is the most widely used, this basal medium increases costs at the commercial level. The objective of this work was to compare the MS medium with an organic basal medium made from a vermicompost extract (EV) in the multiplication and rooting stages of D. cedrosanum. Seeds were established in MS medium for germination. Then, the seedlings obtained were used as secondary explants for the multiplication stage. In the multiplication stage, seven treatments were evaluated under a completely randomized design with 10 replications. A control (MS medium) and six EV concentrations (30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 mL L-1) were compared. Our results showed the highest sprout formation in the control treatment (8.25 sprouts per explant). Whereas in the EV base treatments, the 25 ml L‑1 concentration exhibited the highest number of sprouts (3 sprouts per explant). It is worth noting that no significant differences were found between the control and the 25 ml L-1 concentration treatments in terms of the number of variables and leaf length. In the rooting stage, there was no significant difference between treatments in the root number. The MS medium and 10 ml L-1 of EV was not statistically different according to root length (6.53 and 5.99 cm, respectively), the 10 ml L-1 concentration of EV surpassed the MS in root width (1.13 mm). The EV based medium at a concentration of 10 ml L-1 can be used to completely to replace the MS medium in the rooting stage of D. cedrosanum.

El riego deficitario es una estrategia para incrementar la productividad del agua especialmente en las zonas áridas y semiáridas. Con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del riego deficitario (60, 80 y 100 de la evapotranspiración, ET) sobre el rendimiento y la productividad del agua en cultivos de invierno, se estableció un trabajo de campo, para lo cual se utilizó un diseño experimental de parcelas divididas en bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Los porcentajes de ET corresponden a la parcela principal (60, 80 y 100 %) bajo un sistema de riego por goteo y un testigo con riego por inundación los cultivos de invierno: cebada (Hordeum vulgare L.); canola (Brassica napus L.); triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack); avena (Avena sativa L.), y cártamo (Carthamus tinctorius L.) como subparcelas. Los resultados muestran que el rendimiento de biomasa de las especies y la productividad del agua (PA) dependen del riego deficitario. Con la ET de 80 y 100 % se obtuvieron los mayores rendimientos de forraje verde y seco en la cebada, triticale y avena, respectivamente. La mayor productividad del agua corresponde a los tratamientos con 60 y 80 % de ET (4 y 3.75 kg m^-3). El riego deficitario con el 60 % de ET permite mantener el potencial forrajero y la productividad del agua en los cultivos de invierno.

Accurate estimation of crop water requirements is essential to improve irrigation efficiency for forage maize production. This study compared satellite- and UAV-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) models for estimating crop coefficients (K_c) and evaluated their operational performance for irrigation scheduling. K_c–NDVI models were developed during the 2023 growing season and subsequently validated under field conditions during the 2024 season in two forage maize hybrids (N83N5 and Matador) under three irrigation strategies: conventional producer irrigation (ID1), satellite-based irrigation scheduling (ID2), and UAV-based irrigation scheduling (ID3). Both NDVI sources exhibited strong relationships with K_c, with higher calibration accuracy for the UAV model (R² = 0.9414) than for the satellite model (R² = 0.8278). The UAV-based model applied 23–30% less irrigation water, maintaining high water productivity but also reducing crop growth, forage yield, and nutritional quality. In contrast, satellite-based irrigation scheduling promoted greater crop growth and produced the highest forage yield, reaching 59.8 t ha⁻¹ in hybrid N83N5 while maintaining efficient water use. This treatment also improved forage quality by increasing dry matter and starch concentrations while reducing fiber fractions. The findings highlight the complementary potential of satellite and UAV imagery in precision irrigation and underscore the trade-offs between spatial detail, temporal resolution, and operational scalability. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that a stronger K_c–NDVI relationship does not necessarily translate into improved irrigation scheduling performance. Under the conditions evaluated, the satellite-based model provided the best balance between water use, forage yield, and nutritional quality.

Selenium (Se) deficiency is a global health problem affecting more than 500 million people; crop biofortification is a sustainable strategy for its mitigation. This study investigated the effect of the application of selenate nanoparticles (SeO42−) and the combination of selenate (SeO42−) and chitosan (CS) (forming a SeO42−-CS complex) on the antioxidant profile, growth, biomass, bioactive compounds, enzymes, and Se accumulation of wheat (Triticum spp.) sprouts. Fourteen treatments were applied using a factorial design combining seven concentrations and two formulations: SeO42− and SeO42−-CS. It was identified that chitosan increased Se uptake efficiency by 30% versus conventional selenate. The optimal dose for biomass was 0.15 mg L−1 of SeO42−-CS (+40% vs. control), while 0.25 mg L−1 maximized bioactive compounds (phenolics (25%) and flavonoids (21%)) as well as antioxidant capacity (26%) and enzymatic activity (SOD: 37%; POD: 41%). In addition, CS reduced Se phytotoxicity at doses ≥1.50 mg L−1, evidencing its dual role as a delivery vehicle and cell protector. These findings demonstrate that the SeO42−-CS hybrid system is a technologically viable and efficient alternative to traditional selenate for the production of biofortified sprouts. This strategy shows high potential for scaling up in the functional food industry and for application in agricultural regions with selenium-deficient soils.