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RESEARCH PAPER
Harnessing Bacillus and Paenibacillus: metabolic and genetic characterization
for the development of biopreparations for plant pathogen control
1
Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Microbiology and Rhizosphere, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Final revision date: 2026-09-08
Acceptance date: 2026-09-09
Publication date: 2026-10-01
Corresponding author
Agata Gryta
Department of Soil and Plant System, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Department of Soil and Plant System, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Int. Agrophys. 2026, 40(4): 493-512
HIGHLIGHTS
- Plant extracts suppressed phytopathogens while maintaining beneficial bacteria
- Bacterial biopreparation with plant additives strongly inhibited pathogens
- Biopreparations with natural additives stayed effective for three months
KEYWORDS
microbial biopreparationsbeneficial microorganismsplant pathogen controlantifungal activitymicrobe-pathogen interactions
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The development of effective and stable microbial biopreparations is essential for sustainable plant protection and for assessing the status of environmental microorganisms and phytopathogens. This study investigated the metabolic and ecological capacities of Bacillus and Paenibacillus species with potential roles in pathogen biocontrol. Therefore, organic-compliant liquid biopreparations were formulated using bacterial strains in combination with plant extracts, humic acids, and/or vinasse – components influence on microbial metabolism and antagonistic activity. Individual formulation ingredients were evaluated for their antagonistic properties, compatibility with beneficial bacteria, and their effects on microbial viability and functional activity during storage. Antagonistic assays demonstrated that nettle leaf and horsetail herb extracts effectively inhibited the growth of phytopathogens while preserving the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, indicating selective disruption of pathogen cellular integrity and metabolism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and NanoLive holotomography imaging confirmed the structural stabilization of the final biopreparation. The liquid formulations maintained bacterial viability and functional stability for at least three months at both room temperature and 4°C, meeting industrial standards for microbial product shelf-life. These findings highlight that biopreparations enriched with ecological, biologically safe ingredients have strong potential for application in crop protection against pathogen infections, supporting the development of sustainable biocontrol strategies.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Some elements of the graphical abstract and figures were created with BioRender.com.
FUNDING
This paper was financed by the National Centre for Research and Development in the frame of the project BIOSTRATEG, contract number BIOSTRATEG3/344433/16/NCBR/2018; Minister of Science and Higher Education in Poland – Science for Society II Programme, project number NdS-II/SP/0263/2024/01.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
AUTHORS' CONTRIBUTIONS
Research concept and design: A.G., M.F.; Collection and assembly of data: A.G., M.F., K.O., K.S., M.M., J.P.; Data analysis and interpretation: A.G., M.F., K.O., K.S., J.P.; Funding Acquisition: M.F.; Project Administration: M.F., L.S.P.; Writing the article: A.G.; Critical revision of the article: M.F., K.O., M.M., L.S.P., K.S., J.P., A.G. Final approval of the article: M.F., K.O., M.M., L.S.P., K.S., J.P., A.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
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| eISSN: | 2300-8725 |
| ISSN: | 0236-8722 |
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