Maize silage is used in the diet of dairy cows, with suitable results in milk yield. In this study, the composition and diversity of the bacterial communities of the silage process of Amarillo Zamorano (AZ) Mexican maize landrace with relation to the Antilope (A) commercial hybrid are described. From both types of maize, seeds were sown in experimental plots, plants harvested at the reproductive stage, chopped, and packed in laboratory micro-silos. Physicochemical parameters were evaluated, and DNA was extracted from the juice in the micro-silos. The bacterial communities were analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of seven hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition of both bacterial communities was dominated by Lactobacillales and Enterobacteriales, Lactobacillales mainly in A silage and Enterobacteriales in AZ silage; as well, the core bacterial community of both silages comprises 212 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Sugar concentration showed the highest number of significant associations with OTUs of different phyla. The structure of the bacterial communities was different in both silage fermentation processes, showing that AZ silage has a shorter fermentation process than A silage. In addition, NGS demonstrated the effect of the type of maize and local conditions on silage fermentation and contributed to potential strategies to improve the quality of AZ silage.

Microbial metallophores are low-molecular-weight chelating agents produced by microorganisms to acquire essential metal ions. Their biosynthesis, transport, and regulation involve complex processes, specialized enzymatic machinery, and intricate regulatory networks. This review examines the multifaceted roles of metallophores in microbial ecology and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture, emphasizing their key role in trace metal acquisition, nutrient cycling, and plant–microbe interactions. Furthermore, it explores the potential applications of metallophores in agriculture, bioremediation, and biotechnology, connecting their potential to the development of novel strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Introduction. MC. To describe the infection processon blackberry fruits by Rhizopus stolonifer, sampleswere taken at different intervals for a period of 72 h. All fungalisolates obtained were maintained on PDA. The bacterial colonieswere isolated and purified by streaking on PDA. The antagonisticactivity of the bacteria was assessed against R. stolonifer bydual culture technique on PDA. To detect the production of siderophores,the chrome azurol S assay was carried out. Results.The infection process of R. stolonifer on blackberryfruits was described for the first time in this work. Eighty-sixbacterial isolates from different parts of the plant and rhizosphericsoil were obtained. Bacterial isolates with antagonistic activitywere identified and the production of siderophores was measured.Four isolates showed antagonistic activity against R. stolonifer. Bacillus subtilis obtained from soil was the mosteffective isolate. Conclusion. In this study we isolatedand identified antagonistic bacteria with potential for biocontrolon Rhizopus stolonifer obtained from blackberry fruits.To our knowledge this is the first report regarding this topic.