Dual Roles of Bacillus velezensis ES-120 in Plant Disease Suppression and Growth Promotion.

Bacillus velezensis ES-120 simultaneously suppresses soil-borne pathogens and promotes plant growth through distinct metabolites, offering a dual-function bioinoculant for sustainable agriculture.

• Why it matters: Understanding how beneficial microbes support plant health and growth can reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, addressing environmental and food security concerns.
• What they did: Researchers isolated ES-120 from Chenopodium album L. and used Arabidopsis thaliana to identify that its soluble metabolites inhibit pathogens, while its VOCs enhance growth by modulating hormone pathways, confirmed through chemical analysis and greenhouse trials.
• The result: ES-120 effectively reduced wilt in tomatoes and increased Chinese cabbage biomass, demonstrating its potential to improve crop resilience and yield by combining pathogen suppression with growth promotion.