Microbial Fertilizers: A Study on the Current Scenario of Brazilian Inoculants and Future Perspectives
Matheus Felipe de Lima Andreata, Leandro Afonso, Erika Tyemi Goya Niekawa, Julio M. Salomão, Kawany Roque Basso, Maria Clara Ribeiro Silva, Leonardo Cruz Alves, Stefani Fabiola Alarcon, Maria Eugênia Alcantara Parra, Kathlen Giovana Grzegorczyk, Andréas Lazaros Chryssafidis, Galdino Andrade
Abstract
The increasing need for sustainable agricultural practices, combined with the demand for enhanced crop productivity, has led to a growing interest in utilizing microorganisms for biocontrol of diseases and pests, as well as for growth promotion. In Brazilian agriculture, the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) has become increasingly prevalent, with a corresponding rise in the number of registered microbial inoculants each year. PGPR and PGPF occupy diverse niches within the rhizosphere, playing a crucial role in soil nutrient cycling and influencing a wide range of plant physiological processes. This review examines the primary mechanisms employed by these microbial agents to promote growth, as well as the strategy of co-inoculation to enhance product efficacy. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the microbial inoculants currently available in Brazil, detailing the microorganisms accessible for major crops, and discuss the market's prospects for the research and development of novel products in light of current challenges faced in the coming years.