Soil Bacteria Protect Wheat from Pathogenic Fungus, Offering New Agricultural Solutions
Researchers from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the University of São Paulo (USP) have identified three bacterial species that can protect wheat plants from root rot caused by the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana. Their study, published in NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes, demonstrates that inoculating soil with these bacteria can reduce disease symptoms by up to 60%. The bacteria, specifically Streptomyces virginiae, Paenibacillus ottowii, and Pseudomonas inefficax, do not eliminate the pathogen but rather alter the soil microbiome to create a 'microbiological shield' that strengthens the plant's defenses. Pseudomonas inefficax was found to be the most effective, significantly increasing root biomass and restoring microbiome functions linked to plant protection. This research builds on previous studies that surveyed the soil microbiome of ancestral wheat varieties and commercial cultivars, with the selected bacteria originating from landrace wheat varieties from Turkey and Iran. 
