Bioformulations with beneficial microbial consortia, a bioactive compound and plant biopolymers modulate sweet basil productivity, photosynthetic activity and metabolites

settingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle Bioformulations with Beneficial Microbial Consortia, a Bioactive Compound and Plant Biopolymers Modulate Sweet Basil Productivity, Photosynthetic Activity and Metabolites by Ernesto Comite 1,†,Christophe El-Nakhel 1,†ORCID,Youssef Rouphael 1ORCID,Valeria Ventorino 1,2,Olimpia Pepe 1,2,Assunta Borzacchiello 3,Francesco Vinale 4,5ORCID,Daniela Rigano 6ORCID,Alessia Staropoli 1,5ORCID,Matteo Lorito 1 andSheridan L. Woo 2,5,6,*ORCID 1 Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy 2 Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy 3 National Research Council, Institute for Composite Polymers and Biomaterials, 80125 Napoli, Italy 4 Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy 5 Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy 6 Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. † Authors had equal contribution (co-first authors). Pathogens 2021, 10(7), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10070870 Submission received: 21 June 2021 / Revised: 5 July 2021 / Accepted: 6 July 2021 / Published: 10 July 2021 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Beneficial Plant–Fungal Interactions) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Increasing attention is being given to the development of innovative formulations to substitute the use of synthetic chemicals to improve agricultural production and resource use efficiency. Alternatives can include biological products containing beneficial microorganisms and bioactive metabolites able to inhibit plant pathogens, induce systemic resistance and promote plant growth. The efficacy of such bioformulations can be increased by the addition of polymers as adjuvants or carriers. Trichoderma afroharzianum T22, Azotobacter chroococcum 76A and 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP; a Trichoderma secondary metabolite) were administrated singularly or in a consortium, with or without a carboxymethyl cellulose-based biopolymer (BP), and tested on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in a protected greenhouse. The effect of the treatments on basil yield, photosynthetic activity and secondary metabolites production was assessed. Photosynthetic efficiency was augmented by the applications of the bioformulations. The applications to the rhizosphere with BP + 6PP and BP + T22 + 76A increased the total fresh weight of basil by 26.3% and 23.6%, respectively. Untargeted LC-MS qTOF analysis demonstrated that the plant metabolome was significantly modified by the treatments. Quantification of the profiles for the major phenolic acids indicated that the treatment with the T22 + 76A consortium increased rosmarinic acid content by 110%. The use of innovative bioformulations containing microbes, their metabolites and a biopolymer was found to modulate the cultivation of fresh basil by improving yield and quality, thus providing the opportunity to develop farming systems with minimal impact on the environmental footprint from the agricultural production process.