Browsing by Author "Danesh, Younes Rezaee"

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Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Strigolactones: Modulating Molecular Defense Mechanisms in Wheat Against Fusarium Culmorum
(Springer, 2025) Boyno, Gokhan; Demir, Semra; Danesh, Younes Rezaee
Aims: The role of strigolactones (SL) in molecular signalling with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been intensively investigated, but the impact of this interaction on defence mechanisms in soil microbiota and plant-pathogen systems is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SL and AMF treatments on molecular defence strategies and growth of wheat through soil-plant interactions during Fusarium culmorum (FC) infection.MethodsWheat varieties grown with and without AMF were inoculated with SL (rac-GR24; 15 mu M) and FC (1 x 10(6) spores ml-1) at the early stage of symbiosis. To evaluate symbiotic activity and infection effects in soil, expression levels of defence genes (PAL, PR2, PR3, PR4) and growth genes (TEF, Rubisco) were analysed by qRT-PCR before and after FC inoculation.ResultsSL was found to increase AMF activity in soil media and enhance symbiosis. This interaction improved both plant growth and defence responses. Increased expression of TEF and Rubisco genes favoured plant growth, while decreased expression of PR2 facilitated the entry of AMF hyphae into root tissues. Increased expression of PR3 enhanced the production of antifungal enzymes, while down-regulation of PR4 optimised energy utilisation through a 'priming' effect. Expression of the PAL gene showed cultivar-specific changes.ConclusionsSL and AMF treatments significantly reduced disease severity during FC infection by optimising wheat defence and growth responses at the molecular level through the plant-soil system. These findings highlight the potential of SL and AMF for sustainable agricultural practices.
Ascorbic Acid Enhances Growth and Dualex Parameters in Arachis Hypogaea L. Under Salt Stress
(Springernature, 2024) Tunctuerk, Ruveyde; Oral, Erol; Tunctuerk, Murat; Nohutcu, Luetfi; Najafi, Solmaz; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Pace, Loretta
Salt stress limits crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions, posing a significant challenge to agricultural sustainability. This study investigates the potential of ascorbic acid (AA) to alleviate the harmful effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) in Arachis hypogaea L. by applying AA concentrations of 0, 100, 200, and 300 ppm and NaCl levels of 100 and 200 mM under controlled conditions. Results showed that the application of 300 ppm AA under 200 mM NaCl notably mitigated salt-induced reductions, enhancing stem and root lengths by 33% and 14% and increasing stem fresh and dry weights by 67% and 39%, respectively. Comparative analysis showed a 3% decrease in plant temperature, a 56% increase in leaf area, and a 59% reduction in malondialdehyde, underscoring AA's protective effects. Although not all measured parameters responded significantly to AA under salt stress, these findings highlight the compound's potential to counteract growth reductions in A. hypogaea, demonstrating its value for sustainable agricultural practices under saline conditions.
Biological Control of Three Fungal Diseases in Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa) With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
(Mdpi, 2023) Demir, Semra; Durak, Emre Demirer; Gunes, Hasret; Boyno, Gokhan; Mulet, Jose M.; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Porcel, Rosa
Similar to many other plant-based products, strawberries are susceptible to fungal diseases caused by various pathogen groups. In recent years, efforts have been made to combat these diseases using biological control methods, particularly the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This study aimed to determine the effects of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Gigaspora margarita (Gm)) on Rhizoctonia fragariae (Rf), Fusarium oxysporum (Fo), and Alternaria alternata (Aa), which are major pathogens for strawberry. The results showed that the effects of AMF on disease severity and plant growth varied depending on the pathogens involved. Rf caused the highest disease severity, followed by Fo and Aa, but all AMF treatments significantly reduced the disease severity compared to control treatments. The study also found that the specific AMF species and their combinations influenced plant growth responses under different pathogenic conditions. Different AMF treatments resulted in varying increases in plant fresh weight, dry weight, and length, depending on the pathogen. Moreover, the application of AMF led to increased levels of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and phosphorus content in pathogen-infected plants compared to control treatments. Fm was more efficient than Gm in increasing these biochemical parameters. The levels of root colonization by AMF were similar among different AMF treatments, but the effects on fungal spore density varied depending on the pathogen. Some AMF treatments increased fungal spore density, while others did not show significant differences. In conclusion, our research sheds light on the differential effects of AMF species on disease severity, plant growth, and biochemical parameters in strawberry plants facing diverse pathogens. These findings underscore the potential benefits of AMF in disease management, as they reduce disease severity and bolster plant growth and defense mechanisms.
Bridging Microbial Biocontrol and Phytochemical Biopesticides: Synergistic Approaches for Sustainable Crop Protection
(MDPI, 2025) Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Mulet, Jose Miguel; Porcel, Rosa
The increasing prevalence of pests and diseases in agriculture necessitates innovative strategies for crop protection that mitigate environmental impacts. This review paper investigates the synergistic potential of combining microbial biocontrol agents and phytochemical biopesticides as sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. Through a comprehensive review of recent literature, we analyze the mechanisms by which beneficial microbes (e.g., Trichoderma, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas) enhance plant resilience and suppress pathogens, and how plant-derived phytochemicals such as essential oils, alkaloids, and flavonoids contribute to pest deterrence and disease resistance. The integration of these bio-based resources forms an actionable framework for sustainable crop protection-enabling reduced chemical dependence, improved soil health, and enhanced biodiversity. Examples of synergistic success, such as the combined use of Bacillus thuringiensis with neem extract and Trichoderma with lemongrass oil, illustrate their field potential. Future research should prioritize the formulation of stable microbial-phytochemical consortia, field validation of synergistic efficacy, and optimization of delivery systems to support commercial-scale adoption. Ultimately, this study promotes a paradigm shift toward eco-efficient pest management, bridging fundamental research and applied innovation for resilient agroecosystems.
The Effects of Arbuscular Micorizal Fungus (amf) and Strigolactone Treatments Against Foot and Root Rot Disease (fusarium Culmorum (w.g. Smith) Saccardo) in Wheat
(2024) Boyno, Gökhan; Demir, Semra; Danesh, Younes Rezaee
Dünya genelinde önemli bir tarım ürünü olan buğday, kök ve kök boğazı çürüklüğü (FRR) ile Fusarium başak yanıklığına (FHB) neden olan Fusarium culmorum (FC) gibi fungal patojenlerin tehdidi altındadır. Bu çalışma, FC'nin neden olduğu FRR'ye karşı buğday bitkilerinde Strigolaktonun (SL) sentetik analoğu rac-GR24 ve arbusküler mikorizal fungus (Funneliformis mosseae, AMF) uygulamalarının bitki gelişimi, fizyolojik tepkiler, hastalığa karşı moleküler düzeyde dayanıklık geliştirme ve toprak sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktadır. Çalışmada, FC'ye hassas 'Esperia' ve dayanıklı 'Demir 2000' buğday çeşitleri kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın ön deneme aşamasında, AMF ile sinerjik etkiyi artıran en uygun SL konsantrasyonu (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 ve 20 μM) ve uygulama şekli (rizosferden ve yeşil aksamdan) belirlenmiştir. Bitki morfolojisi, klorofil, fosfor içeriği ve mikorizal simbiyoz dahil 72 parametre üzerinden yapılan analizler sonucunda, en etkili konsantrasyonun '15 μM' ve uygulama şeklinin 'rizosferden' yapılması olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Ana denemede, AMF ve SL uygulamalarının FC'ye karşı hassas ve dayanıklı buğday çeşitlerinde bitki gelişimi ve savunma mekanizmaları üzerindeki etkileri detaylandırılmıştır. SL ve AMF'nin sinerjik etkileri, bitki morfolojisi, klorofil içeriği, biyokimyasal aktiviteler ve fosfor alımı gibi parametrelerde anlamlı iyileşmeler sağlamış, bu durum bitki sağlığını ve büyümesini desteklemiştir. Özellikle hassas çeşit Esperia'da toplam fenolik içeriği, antioksidan aktivitesi ve prolin seviyelerinde dengeli bir artış sağlanarak hastalık stresine karşı savunma kapasitesi güçlendirilmiştir. Moleküler düzeyde yapılan analizler, AMF ve SL'nin birlikte uygulanmasının bitki gelişim genleri (Rubisco, TEF) ve savunma genleri (PAL, PR2, PR3, PR4) üzerinde belirgin etkiler yarattığını ortaya koymuştur. PAL ve PR3/PR4 genlerinin ekspresyonu artarken, PR2 geni baskılanmış ve bu durum bitkinin belirli yolaklarını destekleyen bir savunma stratejisi ile hastalığa karşı dayanıklılığı artırmasını sağlamıştır. Toprak sağlığı açısından ise AMF ve SL uygulamalarının topraktaki enzim aktivitelerini (katalaz, üreaz, dehidrogenaz) ve glomalin üretimini artırarak mikrobiyal topluluğu güçlendirdiği ve organik madde döngüsünü iyileştirdiği belirlenmiştir. Bu bulgular, SL ve AMF uygulamalarının kimyasal gübre ve pestisitlere olan bağımlılığı azaltma ve sürdürülebilir tarım uygulamalarını teşvik etme potansiyelinin altını çizmektedir
Effects of Some Biological Agents on the Growth and Biochemical Parameters of Tomato Plants Infected With Alternaria Solani (Ellis & Martin) Sorauer
(Springer, 2022) Boyno, Gokhan; Demir, Semra; Danesh, Younes Rezaee
The effects of three biological control agents (BCAs) including Funneliformis mosseae BEG12 (FM) as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Bacillus velezensis V40K2 (BV) as plant growth-promoter rhizobacterium (PGPR) and Trichoderma viride NTC2 (TV) as plant growth-promoter fungus (PGPF) against Alternaria solani (Ellis & Martin) Sorauer (AS) were studied. For this purpose, 2.5 g FM (150 spores g(-1)) was inoculated in the seed bed. After seedling emergence, TV (1 x 10(6) spor/ml) as well as BV (1 x 10(8) CFU mL(-1)) were inoculated. Then, onee week after TV and BV treatments, 1 x 10(6) spore mL(-1) of AS was inoculated by spraying on each plant. It was found that the single, double and triple combinations of these selected biocontrol agents against pathogen generally suppressed the disease severity and stimulated the plant growth. Compared to other treatments without any positive effects, the use of the AM fungal treatment had positive effects on the total phenolic content as well as antioxidant activity. Also, the highest total phosphorus content was observed in FM + TV + AS (7.3%) and AS (8.0%) treatments. No statistically significant difference was observed among the combinations in terms of the AMF colonization rate and soil spore density, which showing that mycorrhizal dependency did not occur in the FM + TV + BV + AS treatment (-6.7). However, compared to the control group, this treatment did not affect on disease suppression and plant growth parameters.
Effects of Some Biological Agents on the Growth and Biochemical Parameters of Tomato Plants Infected With Alternaria Solani (Ellis & Martin) Sorauer (2021) (Oct, 10.1007/S10658-021-02398-2, 2021)
(Springer, 2022) Boyno, Gokhan; Demir, Semra; Danesh, Younes Rezaee
Enhancing the Effects of Solarization-Based Approaches To Suppress Verticillium Dahliae Inocula Affecting Tomato in Greenhouse
(Elsevier, 2024) Castello, Ivana; D'Emilio, Alessandro; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Vitale, Alessandro
The main concerns regarding the management of soilborne pathogens of vegetable crops through fumigants are due to their detrimental effects on the human health and environment. Due to global restrictions, soil solarization alone or combined with low-impact measures are being re-evaluated as eco-friendly alternatives to replacement of phasing-out or banned fumigants. Three experiments were performed to compare the performance of traditional and innovative films in increasing thermal performance under different partially opened or kept closed greenhouses. The effects of treatment alone or combined with Brassica pellet (Biofence (R)) incorporation were tested in suppressing microsclerotia of Verticillium dahliae, causing wilt of tomato and vegetable crops. Although inducing different thermal regimes at depths 15 and 30-cm depths, all films were effective in reducing microsclerotia in soil compared to the bare plots under different greenhouse conditions. The performances achieved in closed greenhouse were better than those achieved in greenhouses with the side openings kept open. In these latter conditions, green-colored ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) and uncolored EVA film well performed when combined with Brassica pellet, achieving better results than those obtained in the plots mulched with film or amended alone, respectively. Smoky gray low-density polyethylene (LDPE), followed by uncolored EVA and polyamide virtually impermeable film (PA-VIF) were the most effective in reducing/suppressing V. dahliae microsclerotia within 3-to-8 weeks of treatment in closed greenhouse whereas green EVA showed lesser performance. PA-VIF and EVA green film are attractive since they may be used in combination with biofumigants or left on as mulching for weed control of crops. This paper indicates that sustainable solarization-based approaches with different films alone or integrated with Brassica incorporation can also be successfully pursued against thermo-tolerant pathogens as V. dahliae. Moreover, our findings preliminarily show that the choice of film and treatment duration should be modulated based on the greenhouse operative conditions.
Evaluation of Funneliformis Mosseae Inoculation Effects on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Essential Oil Content in Turkish Oregano Under Drought Stress
(Peerj inc, 2025) Najafi, Mina; Cokuysal, Burcin; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Farda, Beatrice; Mignini, Amedeo; Pellegrini, Marika
Background. Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.) is a perennial herb widely recognized for its medicinal, cosmetic, and culinary uses due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Drought is a significant stressor for crops, particularly affecting O. onites quality and yield. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhance plant growth, and improve tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought. Methods. This study investigates the effects of Funneliformis mosseae inoculation on O. onites growth, nutrient content, and essential oil yield under varying drought conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted with eight treatments, consisting of two factors: irrigation levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) and AMF inoculation (with and without). The experimental design was completely randomized with three replicates. Results. Results demonstrated that AMF inoculation significantly improved the fresh and dry weight of O. onites compared to non-inoculated controls (+11% and +16%, respectively). Moreover, AMF-inoculated plants showed notable increases in potassium (+7%) and nitrogen (+12%) contents. The essential oil yield was also significantly higher in AMF-inoculated plants (+3%). Increasing water stress levels significantly decreased the number of AMF spores (-47%) and the percentage of fungal colonization (-57%). Nevertheless, under drought stress mycorrhizal inoculation significantly maintained plant biomass and nutrient uptake comparable to full irrigation. The AMF drought tolerance effects were confirmed at 75%, 50%, and 25% irrigation rates.
Foliar Applications of Zno and Its Nanoparticles Increase Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) Growth and Yield Under Water Stress
(Mdpi, 2023) Ghiyasi, Mahdi; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Amirnia, Reza; Najafi, Solmaz; Mulet, Jose M.; Porcel, Rosa
Foliar application or minerals is a methodology to promote growth and/or yield and to protect plants against different kinds of stresses. Currently there is a great interest in evaluating the effect of nanoparticles for enhancing the effect of these treatments. This study was performed to evaluate and compare the effect of foliar application of zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the growth and yield of safflower under different irrigation regimes. Foliar applications of ZnO in all concentrations (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 g L-1) led to an increase in biomass yield, number of capitula per plant, number of seeds per capitulum, and grain yield of plants compared with control plants. The maximum increase in the studied traits was obtained with a ZnO concentration of 6, 8, and 10 g L-1. In a second round of experiments, we observed the effect of nanoparticles and found that spraying with ZnO and ZnO-NPs at a concentration of 10 g L-1 may ameliorate the deleterious effects of water deficit. The results of the present study support the idea that foliar application of ZnO improves safflower yield, especially under drought stress, and showed that using of nanoparticles increases the efficiency of the application.
Genetic Diversity of Trichoderma Harzianum Isolates in Sunflower Rhizosphere: the Application of the Urp Molecular Marker
(Mdpi, 2022) Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Pellegrini, Marika; Kariman, Khalil; Boyno, Gokhan; Djebaili, Rihab; Farda, Beatrice; Najafi, Solmaz
The genetic diversity of 77 Trichoderma harzianum isolates collected from sunflower rhizosphere soils in Urmia, Khoy, and Salmas in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, was evaluated by using the Universal Rice Primer (URP) molecular marker. The DNA band pattern of the isolates was developed using seven primers of this marker. These primers produced 186 gene loci, out of which 182 loci were polymorphic. Accordingly, the genetic diversity of the isolates was calculated, and their kinship relations were determined by cluster analysis using the NTSYS software package. URP-6R had the highest marker index among the studied primers, followed by URP-1F, URP-4R, and URP-25F, implying their higher efficiency in discriminating between the isolates. The results showed that the URP marker could discriminate between isolates using macroscopic morphological characteristics, such as color and colony type, potential of pigment production in the culture medium, and colony growth rate. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between the geographical distribution of the isolates and the band patterns generated by the primers except for a few cases. The results generally revealed that the URP marker was an efficient tool for determining the genetic diversity of T. harzianum.
Harnessing Beneficial Microbes and Sensor Technologies for Sustainable Smart Agriculture
(MDPI, 2025) Danesh, Younes Rezaee
The integration of beneficial microorganisms with sensor technologies represents a transformative advancement toward sustainable smart agriculture. This review synthesizes recent progress in combining microbial bioinoculants with sensor-based monitoring systems to enhance crop productivity, resource-use efficiency, and environmental resilience. Beneficial bacteria and fungi improve nutrient cycling, stress tolerance, and soil fertility thereby reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In parallel, sensor networks-including soil moisture, nutrient, environmental, and remote-sensing platforms-enable real-time, data-driven management of agroecosystems. Integrated microbe-sensor approaches have demonstrated 10-25% yield increases and up to 30% reductions in agrochemical inputs under optimized field conditions. We propose an integrative Microbe-Sensor Closed Loop (MSCL) framework in which microbial activity and sensor feedback interact dynamically to optimize inputs, monitor plant-soil interactions, and sustain productivity. Key applications include precision fertilization, stress diagnostics, and early detection of nutrient or pathogen imbalances. The review also highlights barriers to large-scale adoption, such as variable field performance of inoculants, high sensor costs, and limited interoperability of data systems. Addressing these challenges through standardization, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and farmer training will accelerate the transition toward climate-smart, self-regulating agricultural systems. Collectively, the integration of biological and technological innovations provides a clear pathway toward resilient, resource-efficient, and ecologically sound food production.
Identifying Amf-Rich Tir Wheat Rhizospheres To Foster Microbial Inoculants Useful in Sustainable Agriculture: Evidence From the Van Lake Basin
(Mdpi, 2025) Najafi, Solmaz; Ulker, Mehmet; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Demir, Semra; Oral, Erol; Altuner, Fevzi; Pellegrini, Marika
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing nutrient efficiency and reducing the dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Developing these sustainable, effective products requires knowledge of the target plant and its associated microbial communities in the production landscape of interest. This study focused on AMF populations associated with Tir wheat in six main locations of T & uuml;rkiye's Van Lake Basin. The Er & ccedil;ek-& Ouml;zalp-Saray region exhibited the highest organic matter values. Higher available phosphorous contents were found for Erci & scedil;-Patnos and Muradiye. The Erci & scedil;-Patnos region exhibited the highest AMF density (120 spores/10 g soil) and frequency (75%), while the lowest AMF density (45 spores/10 g soil) was recorded in Muradiye. Sand contents correlated positively with spore number and mycorrhizal frequency and negatively with silt and clay. Based on these results, Erci & scedil;-Patnos was elected as the best location for the isolation of AMF spores suitable for the development of microbial-based tools for Tir wheat cultivation. These results are very important in the current context of climate change, which mandates the use of low-impact environmental strategies. Further research should explore the interactions of AMFs with other microorganisms to optimize their ecological benefits. However, the results of this study provide a valuable basis for future investigations of AMF-based products for use in sustainable Tir wheat cultivation.
Is the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Funneliformis Mosseae a Suitable Agent To Control Criconematid Populations
(Mdpi, 2022) Manteghi, Amir; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Hesar, Abbas Mokaram; Demir, Semra; Boyno, Gokhan; Catani, Linda; Semprucci, Federica
Several studies have shown the potential of using mycorrhizal fungi in increasing the plant yield by simultaneously reducing damages caused by pathogens. Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are among the most feared pathogens for crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae as a mycorrhizal fungus on the population abundance of three world widespread species of nematodes from the family Criconematidae: Mesocriconema xenoplax, Mesocriconema antipolitanum, and Criconemides informis. Pure and highly abundant populations of each species were collected from Urmia city in Northwestern Iran, after the identification morphological and morphometric characteristics. The experiments were carried out in greenhouse conditions on three different rhizospheres of alfalfa, sugar beet, and wheat. After five months, the final population of nematodes and fungus, and the root surface on host plants inoculated and non-inoculated with the fungus F. mosseae, were evaluated. The results showed that the population of nematodes was increased in the presence of the fungus. It could be assumed that the extension of the host surface level of roots by the fungus resulted in more feeding sites for nematode activity and, consequently, higher population densities. In this study, the fungus did not seem to play a suitable role in controlling ectoparasitic nematode growth. However, since there are still many open questions about mycorrhizal fungi's role in agriculture, more research should be conducted.
Machine Learning Insights Into Ascorbic Acid-Enhanced Germination of Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa L.) Under Cadmium Stress
(Springer, 2024) Ghiyasi, Mahdi; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Amirnia, Reza; Sharifi, Leila; Najafi, Solmaz; Mulet, Jose M.; Porcel, Rosa
The objective of the present work is to study the impact of seed priming with varying concentrations of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the germination process of black cumin (Nigella sativa) under cadmium (Cd) stress. As expected, Cd had a great effect on germination rates and seedling growth. However, the application of ascorbic acid during seed priming effectively alleviated Cd stress and significantly increased seed vigor. Primed seeds exhibited markedly elevated final germination percentage, germination index, mean germination time, seedling length, seedling vigor index, and reduced abnormal seedling percentage. Additionally, vitamin priming reduced membrane lipid peroxidation, in treated seeds. Moreover, seed priming elicited a considerable increase in peroxidase and catalase activity, thus mitigating stress effects and augmenting seed vitality. Our experimental data allowed us to establish 100-150 mg/L as the optimal concentration range for ascorbic acid in seed priming of black cumin. These insights were further corroborated through modeling techniques based on supervised machine learning. Notably, XGBoost emerged as a proficient tool for predicting final germination percentage, mean germination time, seedling vigor index, abnormal seedling percentage, and peroxidase activity, while SVR demonstrated aptitude in forecasting catalase activity and germination index. The Gaussian method exhibited superior performance in predicting malondialdehyde content. These comprehensive findings substantiate the premise that vitamin priming with ascorbic acid serves as a promising strategy to ameliorate germination outcomes under Cd-induced stress conditions.
Microbial Consortium of Streptomyces Spp. From Mining Environments Enhances Phytoremediation Potential of Lemna Minor L
(MDPI, 2025) Djebaili, Rihab; Farda, Beatrice; Gialdini, Oscar; Vaccarelli, Ilaria; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Pellegrini, Marika
The presence of substantial amounts of heavy metals in the environment can result in various significant ecological issues and human health risks. Currently, bioremediation employing microorganisms is garnering significant interest due to its effectiveness. The present investigation aimed to isolate actinobacterial strains from an Italian mine and to characterise them for heavy metals resistance and plant growth-promoting characteristics. The different samples were processed for DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to investigate the bacteria and archaea communities. Cultivable microbiota were isolated and evaluated for heavy metals tolerance and different PGP traits. The most pertinent strains were tested for compatibility, merged into a consortium, and tested on Lemna minor L. Metabarcoding analysis revealed that amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) at the phylum level were mostly assigned to proteobacteria and bacteroidota. Uncultured and unknown taxa were the most prevalent in the samples at the genus level. A total of ten strains were obtained from the culture-dependent approach exhibiting interesting heavy metals tolerance and plant growth-promoting traits. The best strains (MTW 1 and MTW 5) were selected and further characterised by 16S barcoding. These strains were identified as Streptomyces atratus (99.57% identity). An in planta experiment showed that the metal-tolerant consortium MTW 1-5 improved plant physiology by significantly optimising plant growth and tolerance to heavy metals. The experiment conducted provided evidence for the possibility of using actinobacteria as bioaugmentation agents to improve the phytoextraction abilities of L. minor.
A New Technique for the Extraction of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungal Spores From Rhizosphere
(Mdpi, 2023) Boyno, Gokhan; Demir, Semra; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Durak, Emre Demirer; Cevik, Rojbin; Farda, Beatrice; Pellegrini, Marika
Monitoring the dynamics of the spore bank of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is essential for the sustainable management and protection of agroecosystems. The most common method for extracting AMF spores from soil is the wet-sieving technique (WST). However, this method has many disadvantages. In this study, we modified the WST using new approaches: the ultrasound wet-sieving technique (UWST) and the ultrasound centrifuge technique (UCT). We enumerated and compared the numbers and quality of spores obtained from WST, UWST, and UCT to validate the new modified techniques. We extracted AMF spores from the rhizospheres of different plants, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), pepper (Piper nigrum L.), parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.), and turfgrass (Lolium perenne L.) collected from the Van Lake basin, Turkey. The highest and lowest AMF spore numbers were observed in wheat and turfgrass rhizospheres. The UCT allowed for the extraction of the highest number of spores from all rhizospheres, followed by the UWST and WST. The UWST and WST allowed for the extraction of similar spore numbers from wheat, pepper, parsley, and turfgrass rhizospheres. Beyond the high extracted spore number, UCT was shown to be a fast and low-material-consuming approach. These findings demonstrate that the UCT can be used to efficiently extract AMF spores in future research.
Plant-Fungus Synergy Against Soil Salinity: The Cellular and Molecular Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
(Cell Press, 2025) Boyno, Gokhan; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Cevik, Rojbin; Teniz, Necmettin; Demir, Semra; Calayir, Oktay; Mulet, Jose M.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in disease control by establishing symbiotic relation-ships with plant roots. AMF improve salinity tolerance in plants by regulating the Na+/K+ ratio through selec-tive ion transport and mediate osmotic regulation by inducing the accumulation of osmotic-compatible sol-utes such as glycine betaine and proline to enable plant cells to maintain water content and the metabolic balance. AMF can also activate antioxidant defense responses by stimulating enzymes that protect plant cells from harmful oxidation and pathological infections. Plant salinity tolerance induced by AMF depends on abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent signaling mechanisms, calcium-calmodulin-dependent pathways, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-modulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. Therefore, future research should focus on optimizing the production and field efficacy of AMF-based inoculants, including their combined use with microbial biostimulants, to support the implementation of sustainable agri-cultural practices.
Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) Response To Cadmium Stress: Morpho-Physiological Traits and Mineral Concentrations
(Mdpi, 2023) Tuncturk, Murat; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Tuncturk, Ruveyde; Oral, Erol; Najafi, Solmaz; Nohutcu, Lutfi; Teixeira Filho, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto
Cadmium is a widely distributed heavy metal in agricultural soils that affects plant growth and productivity. In this context, the current study investigated the effects of different cadmium (Cd) doses (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L-1 of CdSO4) on the growth and physiological attributes of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) including plant height (cm), root length (cm), fresh weight (g) of root, stem, and leaves, leaf number, macro and micro-nutrients, Se, and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, and Pb) content. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. The results showed that Cd stress significantly negatively affected all growth indices, macro- and micro-nutrients, and heavy metal content. In addition, it increased the MDA and APX activities. The highest amounts of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, K, Na, Cd, Cr, and Cu were determined in plant roots, while the highest values of Ca and Mg were detected in plant stem tissues. High Cd doses decreased the content of Ca, K, Mg, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn in safflower plant tissues by 45.47%, 39.33%, 79.28%, 68.21%, 37.06%, 66.67%, 45.62%, 50.38%, 54.37%, 33.33% and 65.87%, respectively, as compared to the control treatments.
Synergistic Benefits of AMF: Development of Sustainable Plant Defense System
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2025) Boyno, Gokhan; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Cevik, Rojbin; Teniz, Necmettin; Demir, Semra; Durak, Emre Demirer; Mulet, Jose M.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a ubiquitous group of soil microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of over 80% of terrestrial plant species. These beneficial fungi are crucial in plant growth, nutrition enhancement, and abiotic and biotic stress resilience. This review explores the AMF synergistic benefits including their capacity to interact with plant roots system to enhance nutrient absorption, improve stress resilience, and confer disease resistance, and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture. The Review integrates recent insights illustrating the molecular processes responsible for improving plant defense mechanisms by AMF, including the modulation of signaling pathways. It highlights the importance of AMF-induced systemic resistance in enhanced abiotic and biotic stress resistance. Moreover, the article provides an integrative perspective on applying AMF toward sustainable plant protection. Within this context, we discussed how these fungi improve plant performance, including enhanced nutrient acquisition, increased tolerance to environmental stressors, and enhanced protection against pathogens by improving plant resistance to biotic stress through the activation of the plant immune system. We also examine the ecological significance of AMF in maintaining soil health and fertility and highlight the importance of incorporating their management into sustainable agricultural practices. Future research directions and innovative applications are also presented. The literature survey demonstrated these fungi's versatility in improving plant tolerance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. At the scientific level, these abilities are supported by several open-field experiments on different plant species. Available commercial formulations and positive ongoing research of AMF, in combination with other sustainable tools, highlight the solid research outline on these beneficial fungi.