Summary: There is increasing evidence suggesting that various organic substances, including plant extracts and plant-derived protein hydrolysates, have the potential to enhance crop productivity and improve crop tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. While there is ample data available on the impact of these substances on crop productivity, little information exists regarding their effects on the biodiversity of plant-associated bacteria.
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of foliar applications of a protein hydrolysate-based biostimulant (‘Trainer’), a fertilizer containing micronutrients mixed with plant extracts (‘Auxym’), and a fertilizer containing copper complexed with peptides and amino acids (‘Scudo’) on the structure of phyllosphere bacterial communities in lettuce.
Data obtained through both culture-independent (Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) and culture-dependent approaches indicated that these biostimulant/fertilizers altered the composition of the microbial population and stimulated the growth of specific bacterial taxa. These taxa exhibited potential plant growth-promoting properties such as indole acetic acid production and phosphate solubilization, as well as biocontrol activity against pathogens like Fusarium oxysporum and Erwinia amylovora.
This study highlights the potential of these organic substances not only to enhance crop productivity but also to influence the diversity and composition of plant-associated bacterial communities, with potential implications for plant health and disease management strategies.
Publication: Acta Horticulturae
