Bioprospecting of the Phylum Bacteroidota for Sustainable Agriculture

Global population growth poses major challenges to agricultural systems, demanding more efficient strategies to secure food production. Conventional approaches have relied heavily on chemical inputs; however, their overuse disrupts ecosystems, threatens biodiversity, and undermines human and environmental health. To ensure sustainable productivity, it is essential to explore alternative approaches that leverage microbial functions to enhance plant growth and resilience. Bacteria are among the most abundant soil microorganisms, playing central roles in biogeochemical cycles and plant health. While well-studied phyla such as Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Bacillota have been widely applied as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents, members of the phylum Bacteroidota remain comparatively understudied despite being consistently abundant in plant-associated microbiomes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Bacteroidota, highlighting their taxonomy, ecological diversity, contributions to nutrient cycling, and mechanisms that promote plant growth, as well as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. We also discuss the limitations that hinder their application, particularly challenges in cultivation and isolation, and outline future research directions to harness their potential for sustainable agriculture.