Trends in Plant Science

A novel nanotechnology platform targets stomatal guard cells to fortify crops against pathogens. Puangpathumanond et al. have developed surface-engineered nanocarriers that deliver antimicrobial agents directly to stomata, restricting pathogen invasion and infection. This breakthrough paves the way for precise, eco-friendly crop protection, addressing global food security challenges.

In modern agriculture, microbial inoculants isolated and collected from all over the world have gained popularity as a means of reducing the amount of fertilizer by increasing the availability of nutrients and mitigating environmental stress that is often connected with climate change. Concerning biocontrol, microbial inoculants are known to be effective in integrated pest management. However, the introduction of alien microbes can lead to the emergence of antagonists of the natural soil microbiota, which might drastically change the latter and ultimately have a negative impact on the whole natural soil ecosystem, causing unforeseeable consequences. We will discuss various aspects of the employment of microbial inoculants in agriculture, with a focus on the largely neglected threat posed by potentially invasive microbes.