Professor
Tzu-Pi Huang

Topic: 

Microbial Based Solutions to Sustainable Agriculture- Multifunctional Bacillus-Based Probiotics

Abstract: 

In 2015, world leaders committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The “One Health” approach is also critical for achieving the SDGs. We proposed a Microbial Based Solution for sustainable agriculture, and for plant, animal, and environment health. Our transdisciplinary team discovered two Bacillus-based probiotics (Bacillus licheniformis EC34-01, and Bacillus subtilis 151B1), and demonstrated their potential applications in crop health care, bioremediation of agricultural pollutants, livestock farming, and aquaculture. B. licheniformis EC34-01 and B. subtilis 151B1 were isolated from the plant rhizosphere in Taiwan. The two microbial agents in liquid, powder formulations, and spray-coating granules were assessed for their efficacy in multi-industry applications. Our results indicated that both strains could promote growth of various plants and suppress plant diseases. They also possessed plant growth promoting traits including production of protease, amylase, cellulase, lipase and IAA, and phosphorus-solubilizing activity. B. subtilis 151B1 was found to produce surfactins and iturin A to trigger apoptotic-like cell death, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, and interfere with the energy metabolism of the pathogen. B. subtilis 151B1 and B. licheniformis EC34-01 induced the expression of plant defense genes on cucumber seedlings. Both strains formed biofilms on plant roots and enhanced the tolerance of plants to drought and flooding. Additionally, B. subtilis and B. licheniformis exerted numerous beneficial effects on animals including hogs, chickens, tilapia, milkfishes, and whiteleg shrimp. These two probiotics are good alternatives for improving feed utilization, leading to enhanced growth performance, stress response, immune response, disease resistance, and meat quality. Our findings also suggested their potential use in improvement of farm and water quality for sustainable livestock farming and aquaculture. Moreover, both probiotics exhibited activities in degradation of pesticides malathion and deltamethrin, and tricyclazole. The influence of introducing these Bacillus-based probiotics on the microbiome of the plant rhizosphere and fish guts will also be discussed in this presentation.

 

(The contents presented in part were published in Asia Pacific Biofertilizers and Biopesticides Information Platform/ Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region Aug. 29, 2022. https://apbb.fftc.org.tw/article/263 )