Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection
This study aims to identify the optimal conditions—host, plant material, seasonality, and agricultural practices—for isolating and developing a collection of culturable endophytic microorganisms to support sustainable <i>Olea europaea</i> L. cultivation. Samples were collected from three...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1502 |
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| author | Dalila Crucitti Stefano Barone Salvadora Navarro-Torre Paola Quatrini Francesco Carimi Tiziano Caruso Davide Pacifico |
| author_facet | Dalila Crucitti Stefano Barone Salvadora Navarro-Torre Paola Quatrini Francesco Carimi Tiziano Caruso Davide Pacifico |
| author_sort | Dalila Crucitti |
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| description | This study aims to identify the optimal conditions—host, plant material, seasonality, and agricultural practices—for isolating and developing a collection of culturable endophytic microorganisms to support sustainable <i>Olea europaea</i> L. cultivation. Samples were collected from three Sicilian olive cultivars (‘Nocellara del Belice’, ‘Nocellara Etnea’, and ‘Nocellara Messinese’) and six wild olive accessions across different phenological phases and under organic and conventional agronomic management. Endophytes were isolated from leaves and twigs using a culture-dependent approach, and their taxonomic diversity and plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits were analyzed. A total of 133 endophytic isolates were identified, spanning bacterial (<i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Firmicutes</i>, and <i>Actinobacteria</i>) and fungal (<i>Ascomycota</i> and <i>Basidiomycota</i>) phyla. Wild olive trees contributed more than cultivated varieties to enriching the diversity and composition of culturable endophyte collection as well as twigs instead of leaves. Winter sampling allowed to implement the taxonomic genera of olive endophyte collection. Both farming systems favored an increase in the composition of microbial collection, though organic farming systems supported greater microbial richness. Functional analysis highlighted key PGP traits in a selection of bacterial isolates, including indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and antifungal activity. <i>Bacillus</i> spp. dominated enzymatic activities, such as amylase, protease, and lipase production, as well as antifungal activity against the olive fungal pathogen <i>Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme</i>. This research highlights the significant diversity and functional potential of Mediterranean olive endophytes. Our findings emphasize the role of native microbial communities as bio-inoculants, promoting plant growth, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance. These insights lay the groundwork for developing targeted olive-microbial consortia for biocontrol and stress tolerance applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e26c0996d7fe4bb4bee9a9ceb02a9e90 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-e26c0996d7fe4bb4bee9a9ceb02a9e902025-08-20T03:56:46ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01137150210.3390/microorganisms13071502Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial CollectionDalila Crucitti0Stefano Barone1Salvadora Navarro-Torre2Paola Quatrini3Francesco Carimi4Tiziano Caruso5Davide Pacifico6Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Study of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, C. Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, SpainDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Study of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90134 Palermo, ItalyInstitute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Study of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, ItalyInstitute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, ItalyThis study aims to identify the optimal conditions—host, plant material, seasonality, and agricultural practices—for isolating and developing a collection of culturable endophytic microorganisms to support sustainable <i>Olea europaea</i> L. cultivation. Samples were collected from three Sicilian olive cultivars (‘Nocellara del Belice’, ‘Nocellara Etnea’, and ‘Nocellara Messinese’) and six wild olive accessions across different phenological phases and under organic and conventional agronomic management. Endophytes were isolated from leaves and twigs using a culture-dependent approach, and their taxonomic diversity and plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits were analyzed. A total of 133 endophytic isolates were identified, spanning bacterial (<i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Firmicutes</i>, and <i>Actinobacteria</i>) and fungal (<i>Ascomycota</i> and <i>Basidiomycota</i>) phyla. Wild olive trees contributed more than cultivated varieties to enriching the diversity and composition of culturable endophyte collection as well as twigs instead of leaves. Winter sampling allowed to implement the taxonomic genera of olive endophyte collection. Both farming systems favored an increase in the composition of microbial collection, though organic farming systems supported greater microbial richness. Functional analysis highlighted key PGP traits in a selection of bacterial isolates, including indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and antifungal activity. <i>Bacillus</i> spp. dominated enzymatic activities, such as amylase, protease, and lipase production, as well as antifungal activity against the olive fungal pathogen <i>Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme</i>. This research highlights the significant diversity and functional potential of Mediterranean olive endophytes. Our findings emphasize the role of native microbial communities as bio-inoculants, promoting plant growth, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance. These insights lay the groundwork for developing targeted olive-microbial consortia for biocontrol and stress tolerance applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1502<i>Olea europaea</i> L. subsp. <i>europaea</i> var. <i>europaea</i><i>Olea europaea</i> L. subsp. <i>europaea</i> var. <i>sylvestris</i>olive microbiotacv. ‘Nocellara del Belice’cv. ‘Nocellara Etnea’cv. ‘Nocellara Messinese’ |
| spellingShingle | Dalila Crucitti Stefano Barone Salvadora Navarro-Torre Paola Quatrini Francesco Carimi Tiziano Caruso Davide Pacifico Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection Microorganisms <i>Olea europaea</i> L. subsp. <i>europaea</i> var. <i>europaea</i> <i>Olea europaea</i> L. subsp. <i>europaea</i> var. <i>sylvestris</i> olive microbiota cv. ‘Nocellara del Belice’ cv. ‘Nocellara Etnea’ cv. ‘Nocellara Messinese’ |
| title | Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection |
| title_full | Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection |
| title_fullStr | Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection |
| title_short | Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection |
| title_sort | endophytic diversity in sicilian olive trees identifying optimal conditions for a functional microbial collection |
| topic | <i>Olea europaea</i> L. subsp. <i>europaea</i> var. <i>europaea</i> <i>Olea europaea</i> L. subsp. <i>europaea</i> var. <i>sylvestris</i> olive microbiota cv. ‘Nocellara del Belice’ cv. ‘Nocellara Etnea’ cv. ‘Nocellara Messinese’ |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1502 |
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