Large amounts of chemical fertilizers are still used to suppress pathogens and boost agricultural productivity and food generation. However, their use can cause harmful environmental imbalance. Furthermore, plants typically absorb limited amounts of the nutrients provided by chemical fertilizers. Recent studies are recommending the use of microbiota present in the soil in different formulations, considering that several microorganisms are found in nature in association with plants in a symbiotic, antagonistic, or synergistic way. This ecological alternative is positive because no undesirable significant alterations occur in the environment while stimulating plant nutrition development and protection against damage caused by control pathogens. Therefore, this review presents a comprehensive discussion regarding endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms and their interaction with plants, including signaling and bio-control processes concerning the plant’s defense against pathogenic spread. A discussion is provided about the importance of these bioinputs as a microbial resource that promotes plant development and their sustainable protection methods aiming to increase resilience in the agricultural system. In modern agriculture, the manipulation of bioinputs through Rhizobium contributes to reducing the effects of greenhouse gases by managing nitrogen runoff and decreasing nitrous oxide. Additionally, mycorrhizal fungi extend their root systems, providing plants with greater access to water and nutrients.

The intensive use of soil and the increased consumption of chemical fertilizers have risen over the years, causing soil degradation and impacting human health. The application of the fungus Trichoderma spp. has expanded exponentially and has been used to enhance soil fortification and detoxification of both soil and wastewater. Additionally, it has been applied in agricultural systems as a biocontrol agent against pathogens, to stimulate plant growth, and as a biological fertilizer to improve soil fertility. In this study, three Trichoderma strains ( T. harzianum MMBF 58/09, T. asperellum URM 6997/160821, and T. harzianum IB 19/17) were cultivated using a culture medium designed through Plackett-Burman statistical design, followed by the characterization of the microorganisms to increase enzyme production, siderophore synthesis, and indole-3-acetic acid production. Significant enzymatic activity was observed, including chitinase (0.022 and 0.004 U·mL ^− 1 ), β-1,3-glucanase (0.199 and 0.007 U·mL ^− 1 ), and protease (1.45 and 1.40 U mL ^− 1 ), as well as propagules (9.67 × 10 ⁷ conidia·mL ^− 1 , 2.56 × 10 ⁷ microsclerotia·mL ^− 1 , and 1.79 × 10 ⁷ chlamydospores·mL ^− 1 ). Siderophore production reached 33.26%, and biomass was measured at 1.32 g·100 mL ^− 1 . Some assays of the strains MMBF 58/09, URM 6997/160,821, and IB 19/17 demonstrated that these strains have promising potential to contribute to food safety and agricultural quality. Therefore, the observed responses emphasize the need for oriented microbial selection, supporting the development of targeted bioinputs within the framework of applied microbiology.

Microbial biocontrol agents often exhibit limited shelf life, which restricts their commercialization, storage, and large-scale agricultural application. In this study, freeze-drying (FD) microencapsulation was evaluated as a strategy to improve the stability of a wettable powder (WP) formulation based on Bacillus subtilis fermented broth using maltodextrin (MD) as a carrier. The physicochemical, structural, morphological, and antifungal properties of the resulting formulation were characterized. Physical characterization revealed complete solubility (100% at 0.1 g mL⁻¹), rapid wettability (2 s), and low hygroscopicity (3.86%), indicating favorable properties for handling and application. Scanning electron microscopy revealed irregular glass-like particles of different sizes, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the distribution of components within the maltodextrin matrix. The antifungal activity of the WP and the effects of its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were evaluated against the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium graminearum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The formulation inhibited fungal growth within the tested concentration range (0.1–0.2 g mL⁻¹), although no clear inhibition zone was observed for S. sclerotiorum. Furthermore, the WP maintained 65% viability after 24 months of storage at 4 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of FD microencapsulation to enhance the storage stability of Bacillus subtilis formulations while preserving their antifungal activity.

In the present study, soy protein isolate (SPI) multifunctional bioplastics were prepared by casting, with the addition of tannins extracted from Stryphnodendron adstringens and kraft lignin. The films were obtained through biopolymer composites and blends method, prepared at three pHs (8.5, 9.5 and 10.5) and characterized by thermochemical studies, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, water vapor permeability (WVP), antioxidant activity, water contact angle, surface energy, wettability, and mechanical tests. The composites presented better results when compared to the blend and control films, respectively, in the polarity, hydrophobicity, WVP and especially in the antioxidant activity tests. Nevertheless, no significant difference between the samples was noticed in the thermochemical and spectroscopic studies. The results presented the potential of the composites to produce SPI biopolymers with tannins and kraft lignin, leading to the development of multifunctional materials as an alternative for sustainable packaging.

The growing demand for sustainable agricultural inputs has encouraged the development of biotechnological alternatives based on microbe-derived enzymes and bioactive metabolites. In this study, co-fermentation strategies involving different Trichoderma strains were investigated as a process-based approach to enhance the production of enzymes and plant growth-promoting metabolites with agricultural relevance. Distinct culture media compositions and inoculation strategies significantly affected microbial performance and biocatalytic outputs. Optimized co-culture conditions resulted in enhanced conidiation, microsclerotia formation, siderophore production (up to 95%), phosphate solubilization (up to 419 mg mL⁻¹), indole-3-acetic acid synthesis (0.60 mg mL⁻¹), and increased activities of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, and protease. Metabolomic profiling by GC-MS revealed the induction of diverse secondary metabolites associated with antimicrobial activity and plant–microbe signaling. Overall, the results demonstrate that Trichoderma co-fermentation is an effective biotechnological strategy to intensify enzyme and metabolite production, highlighting its potential for the development of multifunctional bioinputs for sustainable agricultural applications.