29/04/2026
Today’s sugarcane cultivation is faced with abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, heat and water limitation leading to, its reduced growth, yield, and economic productivity. Given the significant role of silica in alleviating these negative effects as well as pathogens, silica solubilizing bacteria opens an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to overcome these challenges.
As a result, Pantoea ananatis ASEna, Pantoea dispersaE345Se, and Pseudomonas migulae DSb were identified as high silica solubilizers. These also exhibited antifungal activity; phosphorus and potassium solubilization; sulfur oxidation; protease and cellulose production; auxin, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia synthesis; nitrogen fixation; tolerance to heat, salinity (10%), drought, and pH stresses. The strategic selection of bacteria that not only solubilize silica but also possess growth-promoting traits and can supply other essential nutrients to stimulating plant growth through various mechanisms, can enhance the effectiveness of silicate-solubilizing bacteria and make them suitable candidates for development of biofertilizers.
Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
To read more:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-48745-3