Microbial Metabolites as Green Bio-Innovations: Sustainable Biostimulant and Biocontrol Solutions for Wheat Production

Noshaba Saleem (Forman Christian College, Pakistan)

10:30 - 10:45 Thursday 16 April Morning

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Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a major staple crop in Pakistan but is highly vulnerable to fungal pathogens such as powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) and stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), which cause considerable yield losses and financial setbacks. In pursuit of sustainable biocontrol strategies, this study evaluates the antifungal and growth-promoting potential of cell-free supernatants (CFSs) derived from Serratia marcescens and Fictibacillus spp., both originally isolated from the phyllosphere of Gossypium arboreum. Wheat plants (cv. Galaxy-2013) were treated with these bacterial CFSs, alongside positive controls treated with salicylic acid (SA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), and water (negative control). Disease severity was quantified using leaf area and spore count assays, while growth performance was assessed through plant height, biomass, spike number, and grain count. Additionally, metabolomic profiling of the CFSs was conducted using ¹H NMR spectroscopy to identify bioactive metabolites. Both CFS treatments significantly reduced disease severity and enhanced plant growth. The Serratia marcescens CFS showed the lowest average percentage disease (APD) for stripe rust (1.86%) and the greatest increase in grain count and biomass, while GA₃ treatment showed the lowest APD for powdery mildew (1.30%). NMR spectra revealed antifungal and growth-promoting compounds, confirming the biochemical basis of their biostimulant effects. These findings highlight the environmental and applied microbiological potential of Serratia marcescens and Fictibacillus spp. as eco-friendly biostimulants and biocontrol agents for managing wheat pathogens. Their use can reduce dependence on chemical fungicides, surpass the colonization problems with general biofertilizers, and support sustainable, microbe-based agricultural practices in cereal production systems.

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