Soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Sclerotium spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and Macrophomina spp. pose significant threats to global agriculture, with soybean crops among the most severely affected due to damping-off disease. These pathogens cause substantial yield losses, making their management a critical concern. In this study, we investigated the potential of Bacillus siamensis BCL, a novel Neotropical strain, as an eco-friendly solution for managing Sclerotium, Rhizoctonia, and Macrophomina species. The strain exhibited strong antifungal activity, significantly inhibiting fungal growth in vitro, with the greatest suppression observed against Macrophomina spp., reaching up to 81%. In vivo assays further confirmed the biocontrol potential of B. siamensis. When applied at 10⁶ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, the strain reduced disease symptoms and improved plant growth parameters—including root length, shoot biomass, and leaf number—compared to untreated, infected controls. The protective effect varied by pathogen, with the most significant recovery in root length observed against Macrophomina spp. (85%) and Sclerotium spp. (78%). In preventive treatments, fermentation extracts of the B. siamensis strain suppressed disease progression, although they did not promote seedling growth. A genomic analysis of B. siamensis BCL revealed genes encoding antimicrobial secondary metabolites, including terpenes, fengycins, and surfactins. These findings highlight B. siamensis BCL as a promising candidate for sustainable crop protection and a valuable resource for developing novel antimicrobial strategies in agriculture.

This article discusses the expansion of agribusiness in the state of Goiás, Brazil, the use of toxic agrochemicals or pesticides, and the resulting ailments contracted by the local population between 2000 and 2013, with emphasis on five municipalities located in the microregion of Ceres (Goianesia, Itapaci, Uruana, Rialma and Barro Alto). The approach employed in this study consisted of bibliographical research, an exploratory analysis of the data, and a non-parametric descriptive and statistical analysis. The findings reveal marked urban expansion in the aforementioned municipalities in the state of Goiás from 2000 to 2013, a shrinking Cerrado biome, and augmented agricultural productivity of sugarcane, corn and soy, accompanied by an increase in the number of poisoning victims, suicide attempts using pesticides, neoplasms and congenital malformations, according to data recorded in public health information systems.

Brown spot, caused by the seedborne fungus Bipolaris oryzae, remains a major constraint in rice production. Here, we used in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate the biocontrol potential of three Bacillus strains (Ba. cereus OQ725688.1, Ba. velezensis OP938696.1, and Ba. subtilis OP937353.1) against Bi. oryzae in two rice cultivars (“Rubelita” and “Predileta”). Ba. cereus showed the highest in vitro mycelial inhibition (≈95%), whereas Ba. velezensis was the most effective under greenhouse conditions, reducing disease severity by up to 60% and increasing seedling vigor by 51% compared with infected controls. “Predileta” showed the strongest response to bacterial treatment, maintaining severity scores below 2 even under high inoculum pressure. Functional assays confirmed that all strains displayed amylolytic, catalase, and phosphate-solubilizing activities, with Ba. velezensis uniquely expressing strong cellulase and protease activities. Genome analysis of Ba. velezensis OP938696.1 revealed multiple biosynthetic gene clusters for antifungal polyketides and lipopeptides. These integrated biochemical and genomic traits demonstrate the novelty and potential of this Neotropical strain as a multifunctional agent capable of suppressing Bi. oryzae while enhancing rice seedling performance. Incorporating such a native strain into seed and soil management offers a sustainable strategy for rice protection in Neotropical systems.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important global crop that is often affected by phytopathogenic fungi. These fungi compromise seed germination and early seedling development, resulting in significant yield losses. This study examined the fungi naturally associated with soybean seeds, the physiological performance of various seed lots, the impact of Bacillus spp. treatments on the incidence of fungi associated with seeds and seed germination, and the ability of Bacillus isolates to antagonize Colletotrichum truncatum. Four soybean cultivars (OLIMPO, 82i78, NR8383RR, and SYN16871PRO) were evaluated using assays of seed health, germination, emergence, pathogenicity, seed treatment, and in vitro antagonism. The most prevalent fungi identified were Aspergillus sp. (5.5%), Cladosporium sp. (7.5%), and Colletotrichum truncatum (0.25%). The pathogenicity of the C. truncatum isolate was confirmed by symptom development and subsequent re-isolation of the pathogen from inoculated plants. However, cultivar 82i78 could not be evaluated due to the absence of plant development. The incidence of fungi associated with seeds and germination varied depending on the treatment with Bacillus species, cultivar, and surface disinfection conditions. In vitro confrontation assays demonstrated strong antagonistic activity against C. truncatum. All Bacillus isolates showed high mycelial growth inhibition, and isolate MOL27 (Bacillus sp.) reached the highest inhibition value (84%). Overall, these results demonstrate that Bacillus spp. can influence the incidence of fungi naturally associated with soybean seeds and exhibit strong antagonistic activity against C. truncatum in vitro. This supports further investigation of these isolates as potential biological control agents.

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that poses a significant public health threat. This fungus has spread to more than 30 countries. This review was conducted aiming to search for in vitro studies on the antifungal actions of plant metabolites against C. auris. The review was constructed following the guidelines of the PRISMA statement. The research protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform. A literature search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library databases, with no restrictions on year or language. Eligibility criteria were based on the PICO concept. Data were meta-analyzed using R software. The risk of bias assessment was performed using an adaptation of the CONSORT tool. A total of 11 of the 768 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, and 30 secondary metabolites of plant origin were analyzed. Of the 30 metabolites found, 26 presented results similar to the controls, and 4 showed superior results: palm leaf extract, Syzygium samarangense bark, Cinnamomum zeylanicum oil (bark) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (leaf). Most plant secondary metabolites showed excellent antifungal potential against C. auris. As a limitation of the study, metabolites of very heterogeneous origin, extraction method, and distinct controls were grouped, which may have interfered with the interpretation of the results, increasing the risk of bias and imprecision. Therefore, further research is needed to confirm their clinical efficacy and safety and elucidate the mechanisms of action.