Instant Insights: Biostimulant Applications in Agriculture

Youssef Rouphael is an Associate Professor at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy. He is Editor-in-Chief of Agronomy MDPI and has been a guest editor on biostimulants in several International Journals (Scientia Horticulturae, Frontiers in Plant Science and Agronomy MDPI). He is a member of the scientific committee of Biostimulant.com. He is internationally-known for his research in horticultural science. Giuseppe Colla is Professor of Vegetable Production, Floriculture and Greenhouse Crop Management at the University of Tuscia, Italy. A member of the editorial boards of several leading journals in horticultural science, Professor Colla has an international reputation for his work on plant nutrition and plant biostimulants. He has coordinated many projects to improve horticultural production. Surendra Dara is the Entomology and Biologicals Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension. He has nearly 25 years of experience in IPM and microbial control, working on 17 species of invasive pests and diseases and several endemic species throughout his career. He has authored/co-authored more than 390 scientific and extension articles, which include three co-edited books, four co-edited special issues of journals, 19 book chapters, and 50 peer-reviewed journal articles. He is currently serving on various committees or holding offices at the University of California, Entomological Society of America, and the Association of Applied IPM Ecologists. He publishes two eJournals and is a Subject Editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology.

• Chapter 1 - Designing and formulating microbial and non-microbial biostimulants: Paolo Bonini, NGAlab, Spain; Veronica Cirino, Atens Agrotecnologias Naturales S.L., Spain; Helene Reynaud, Italpollina USA, USA; Youssef Rouphael, University of Naples Federico II, Italy; Mariateresa Cardarelli, CREA, Centro di ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo, Italy; and Giuseppe Colla, University of Tuscia, Italy; 1 Introduction2 The biostimulant development process3 Industrial case study 1: mycorrhizal inoculants4 Industrial case study 2: vegetal-based protein hydrolysates5 Future trends6 ReferencesChapter 2 - Humic substances (HS) as plant biostimulants in agriculture: Andrea Ertani, Università degli Studi di Padova and Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy; and Michela Schiavon and Serenella Nardi, Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy; 1 Introduction2 Production and characteristics of humic substances3 Humic substances and plant nutrition4 Effects of humic substances on soil5 Biological activities of humic substances6 Commercial humates in agriculture7 Conclusions8 ReferencesChapter 3 - Bio-effectors to optimize the mineral nutrition of crop plants: Markus Weinmann and Günter Neumann, University Hohenheim, Germany; 1 Introduction2 Defining ‘bio-effectors’ and other key terms3 Bacillus species4 Pseudomonas species5 Trichoderma species6 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi7 Synergies between bio-effectors8 Improving bio-effector functionality9 Case study: the BioFector Project10 Conclusions11 Where to look for further information12 ReferencesChapter 4 - The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to improve root function and crop nutrient use efficiency: Melissa M. Larrabee and Louise M. Nelson, University of British Columbia, Canada; 1 Introduction2 The effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on root function3 The effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on plant mineral nutrition4 Future trends in research5 Conclusion6 Where to look for further information7 ReferencesChapter 5 - Advances in biostimulants as an integrated pest management tool in horticulture: Surendra K. Dara, University of California Cooperative Extension, USA; 1 Introduction2 Integrated pest management3 Enhancement of crop growth, health and yield4 Enhancement of soil health5 Inducing natural resistance6 Suppression of diseases7 Suppression of arthropod pests8 Tolerance to abiotic stresses9 Multitrophic interactions and influencing factors10 Strategies of using biostimulants11 Challenges and future needs12 Conclusion13 Where to look for further information14 References