Water scarcity, intensified by climate change, threatens tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) productivity, impacting growth, metabolism and secondary metabolite production. This study evaluated the effects of Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens inoculation in mitigating water stress in the Ibiza cultivar under 100%, 50% and 25% water replenishment. Severe water deficits significantly reduced morphological parameters, such as height, leaf number and dry mass. However, inoculation with B. amyloliquefaciens , particularly in combination with A. brasilense , enhanced dry mass accumulation, stem diameter and root development. Physiological analyses revealed higher electrolyte leakage and compromised membrane integrity due to water stress. Biochemical responses included increased antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT and APX) and proline accumulation, both modulated by bacterial inoculation. Interestingly, chlorophyll content increased at 25% water availability, suggesting an adaptive mechanism, while DNA content decreased. Secondary metabolites (flavonoids and phenolics) also responded to the interaction between irrigation levels and bacterial inoculation. The findings demonstrate that inoculation with A. brasilense and B. amyloliquefaciens is an effective approach to enhance tomato tolerance to water deficits by improving agronomic performance, strengthening antioxidant defences and regulating secondary metabolite production. This strategy supports the development of sustainable and adaptive agricultural practices in the face of increasing water scarcity.

Brazil is the leading producer and exporter of coffee, accounting for more than one-third of global production. However, the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, poses a significant threat to coffee yield and quality. Its control has been primarily based on the use of chemical insecticides, which entail risks to human health and the environment. We evaluated the efficacy of an ethylene synthesis inhibitor and a Bacillus subtilis-based nanobioproduct combined with entomopathogenic fungi against the CBB. The treatments included combinations of potassium phosphate-based and nanobioproduct-based bioregulators, bioinsecticide comprising Beauveria bassiana + Metarhizium anisopliae, and chemical insecticides (acetamiprid + bifenthrin). The experiment included an in vitro assay assessing the reproduction of CBB females on treated coffee berries and a field trial evaluating the impact of the treatments on coffee bean quality, beverage sensory attributes, and antioxidant enzyme activities. All insecticide treatments, except the bioregulator at 6 L ha⁻¹ + insecticides, significantly reduced larvae production. The 6 L ha⁻¹ bioregulator treatment reduced bean defects. The fungi + insecticide treatment increased superoxide dismutase activity, while ascorbate peroxidase activity was highest in the control, followed by the fungi + nanobioproduct treatment group. The nanobioproduct bioregulator combined with entomopathogenic fungi proved to be an efficient strategy for managing the CBB.