Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42332311›Full record

ArticleMicrobial ecology2026

Foliar Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Regulates Soil Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Ecological Functions in Tea Plantations.

Pumo Cai, Yulin Xiong, Weifeng Wang, Xi Du, Chengcong Lu, Yanyan Li, Qisong Li, Yongcong Hong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Microbial ecology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Pumo Cai *Fujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
Yulin Xiong *Fujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
Weifeng WangFujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
Xi DuFujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
Chengcong LuFujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
Yanyan LiFujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China.
Qisong LiFujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China. liqisong@wuyiu.edu.cn.
Yongcong HongFujian Key Laboratory of Big Data Application and Intellectualization for Tea Industry, College of Tea and Food Science, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, 354300, China. wyxyhyc@wuyiu.edu.cn.

Funding

Fujian Province Young and Middle-Aged Research and Education Projects JZ240071, JAT241155Nanping Academy of Resource Industrialization Chemistry Project N2023Z005, N2023Z007, N2024Z009, N2025K019Project of Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology 2025N0013, 2025FJSYCXM03Wuyi University Talent Introduction Project YJ202307, YJ202432, YJ202433
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is widely employed as a biological control agent against pests in tea plantations, yet its impacts on soil health and microbial ecology remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the effects of two Bt application regimes, namely moderate-frequency conventional Bt application (Bt1, 3 sprays over 21 days) and high-frequency intensive Bt application (Bt2, 6 sprays over 42 days), on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure and function in tea soils. The moderate-frequency conventional Bt1 significantly improved soil nutrient status by increasing organic matter, available nitrogen, and potassium, and boosted acid protease, sucrase, and cellulase activities, while Bt2 achieved the maximum urease and polyphenol oxidase activities but failed to promote soil available nutrients and organic matter as effectively as Bt1. Although neither Bt treatment induced notable shifts in overall microbial alpha-diversity indices, community composition differed distinctly between the two treatments. Bt1 enriched beneficial taxa related to nitrogen fixation and organic matter degradation including Pseudomonas, Bradyrhizobium, and Sphingomonas, and sharply suppressed pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus and Curvularia, whereas Bt2 caused an 18.29% reduction in Sphingomonas abundance with limited enrichment of beneficial bacteria. Functional predictions indicated that Bt1 amplified microbial carbon degradation and nitrogen cycling, enriched saprotrophic and symbiotic fungi and reduced plant pathogens by 85.78%, while both Bt treatments elevated saprotrophic fungi yet Bt2 only reduced pathogens by 11.84%. Co-occurrence network analyses revealed enhanced microbial interactions and community stability under Bt1, while excessive high-frequency Bt2 reduced network connectivity and stability compared with CK and Bt1. These results suggest that moderate-frequency conventional Bt application can positively modulate soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions, providing valuable insights for sustainable pest management and soil health maintenance in tea agroecosystems.

Indexed as

Bacillus thuringiensisCamellia sinensisMicrobiotaSoilSoil MicrobiologyBacteriaBiological Control AgentsFungiNitrogenPest Control, BiologicalBiological Control AgentsNitrogenSoilBt biopesticideCamellia sinensisPhysicochemical propertiesSoil healthSoil microbial community

Identifiers

PMID42332311
PMCPMC13542032

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.