Shiitake [Lentinula edodes (Berk)] is one of the most widely cultivated edible mushrooms worldwide, valued for its distinct flavour, nutritional richness, and therapeutic potential. Despite its long-standing culinary and medicinal use, existing literature addresses its various attributes in isolation, focusing either on cultivation methods, nutraceutical properties, or post-harvest processing. This comprehensive review aims to provide a detailed overview of shiitake mushroom biology, combining recent cultivation techniques, substrate-based nutritional modulation, bioactive compound profiling, and sustainable applications of spent shiitake substrate (SSS). Beginning with details on traditional and modern cultivation approaches, including log-based and sawdust-based synthetic methods, the review highlights how substrate type influences yield and nutrient content. The review further compiles major bioactive compounds and their preclinical evidence suggests roles in immunity, anticancer potential, metabolic health, and vitamin D supplementation. Importantly, this work highlights the emerging role of SSS in circular bioeconomy models, including its use in agriculture, bioremediation, and energy recovery. This review addresses a significant gap in existing literature by connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary research, emphasizing shiitake as both a gourmet and medicinal fungus. Additionally, it highlights shiitake as a sustainable biotechnological resource with applications in food, health, and environmental sectors.

Due to high Sulphur content of coals in Meghalaya, India, coal mining in this region generates huge amount of acidic waste characterized by low pH and leaching of toxic heavy metals which is a major environmental problem. This study involves isolating native Bacillus species from samples of active and abandoned Rat-hole coal mines in order to mitigate these phenomena. These species were then evaluated for significant bioremediation potential in the form of heavy metal binding and adsorption, as well as raising acidic pH to pH 8.0 (basic) under in vitro conditions. Sixteen (16) isolates were initially screened to develop the microbial consortia and five isolates (05) were finally selected for this study (sites specific) based on highest heavy metal resistance, and the ability to reverse or increase acidic pH. The isolates demonstrated resistance to the heavy metals under investigation (iron, cadmium, and chromium) with minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 1600 mg/L to 2000 mg/L of Fe, 128 mg/L to 1024 mg/L of Cd, and 64 mg/L to 256 mg/L of Cr. The lowest acidic pH the isolates could grow in in vitro conditions was pH 5.0, at 37 °C, 150 rpm shaking with or without metal. On average, Bacillus sp. KH5M11 and Bacillus sp. KHCL13 have the better binding and removal percentage (%) of iron (99.89 ± 0.066 and 99.87 ± 0.098) respectively. Lysinibacillus sp. SK18-4 have better removal percentage (%) of Chromium (79.903 ± 17.702), followed by Bacillus sp. KHCL13 (76.14 ± 12.233). Bacillus sp. KHCL13 (97.715 ± 1.040) and Bacillus sp. KH5M11 (97.363 ± 1.260) have better removal percentage (%) of Cadmium, as compared to other isolates. Amongst the consortia, the removal percentage, does not show significant differences in heavy metal removals. The iron removal percentage (%) of Consortia-A22ED9 is 92.08 ± 10.281, and Consortia-B18-4M11 is 89.597 ± 10.829. The chromium removal percentage (%) of Consortia-A22ED9 is 74.15 ± 12.906 and Consortia-B18-4M11 is 77.467 ± 12.420. However, both the consortia have similar removal percentage (%) for cadmium. Consortia-A22ED9 removed 97.587 ± 0.958% and Consortia-B18-4M11 removed 97.673 ± 0.475% of Cd respectively. Metal binding was confirmed by FTIR and SEM-EDX analysis, where distinct peaks and clear spectral pointed out to a specific cell surface functional groups and heavy metals binding. In all cases, the average cells optical density (OD-600) for all five isolates was high, ranges from 1.99 to 2.3 for isolates and 2.2 to 2.3 for consortia while the average pH remains relatively above pH 5.0, ranging from pH 5.4 to pH 6.23 for isolates and pH 5.7 to pH 6.3 for consortia. The study concluded that the bioremediation potential of the isolates under said condition was commendable both as individual isolates and in consortia and the possible mechanisms of bioremediation is through adsorption and binding of heavy metal and not solely because of metals precipitation. We hope with minimum manipulation of coal mines acidic condition these Bacillus spp. may become employable in bioremediation of heavy metal and control of acidic pH generation. However, our study is limited only to the in vitro as we do not have chance to carry out field trial which would be the future aspects of these beautiful findings. Much more study may be done on this field for practical applications.

Cold stress in Himalaya is encountered as a major abiotic stress in hilly agri-production along with the fungal invasions as biotic stress. The phytobiome of the Dharamkot Valley in the Western Himalayas was screened for plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits under cold stress conditions. Among 64 isolates, a bacterium identified Pseudomonas bubulae P1 exhibited the most promising attributes, including efficient phosphate solubilization (127.0 ± 0.5 mg/L), siderophore production (75.77 ± 0.9 PSU), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis (28.09 ± 0.7 mg/L) at 10 °C. Pot experiments with the strain P1 treated fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum) plants demonstrated enhanced physiological performance, reflected by increased proline (34.01 ± 0.36 mmol kg-1 FW), antioxidant activity (25 ± 0.64 %), and chlorophyll contents (Chl a: 4.15 ± 0.42 mg g-1 FW; Chl b: 3.89 ± 0.59 mg g-1 FW). Seed germination assays and scanning electron microscopy further confirmed its in vitro antifungal activity, showing 59.3 % inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum. Whole-genome analysis of P1 provided genomic evidence associated with PGP functions, biocontrol mechanisms, and cold stress adaptation. The cold-adapted nature of strain P1 was supported by molecular evidence, as qPCR analysis revealed a 15- to 30-fold upregulation of key cold-responsive genes at 4 °C. Furthermore, antiSMASH-based genome mining identified eight biosynthetic gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite production, providing strong genomic evidence of the strain's biocontrol potential. The findings highlight how plant-microbe associations contribute to the natural resilience of the phytobiome, offering new perspectives for improving crop adaptation and productivity in high-altitude ecosystems.

The coldest biomes on Earth are mountains with permanent glaciers and permafrost, vulnerable to climate change. These biomes have experienced marked changes and are projected to undergo accelerated transformation due to elevation-dependent warming. While the physical and vegetative responses to glacial retreat are well documented, associated microbial and biochemical shifts remain poorly understood. During deglaciation, newly exposed forefields undergo rapid physical, chemical, and ecological transitions, selecting for specialised microbial communities that mediate ecosystem development through nutrient cycling, soil formation, carbon storage, and early plant establishment. These early-stage microbiomes should not be viewed as passive responders but as active ecosystem engineers shaping post-glacial landscapes and influencing water quality, biodiversity, and downstream ecosystem services. Ignoring microbial contributions in climate assessments risks underestimating ecosystem trajectories and weakening adaptation strategies. This review highlights the need to integrate microbial processes into mountain sustainability frameworks to support informed management, conservation, and long-term ecosystem resilience.

Background Endophytic fungi form an integral part of plant microbiomes, influencing host physiology, stress resilience, and secondary metabolism. While next-generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly advanced the identification of endophytes, it often falls short of assigning functional roles, necessitating integration with culture-based approaches for downstream applications. Picrorhiza kurrooa, a critically endangered Himalayan medicinal herb valued for its hepatoprotective picrosides, suffers from reduced metabolite content in tissue culture-derived plants, likely due to microbiome loss in the course of aseptic in-vitro practices. Moreover, the diversity and functional role of fungal endomicrobiome in P. kurrooa remain unexplored.Methods Internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based amplicon sequencing was performed to assess and compare the endophytic fungal communities of wild-type (Wt) and in-vitro propagated (Tc) P. kurrooa. Fungal taxa unique to Wt-plants were identified and cross-referenced with culturable isolates. A dominant isolate present only in Wt-plants, Trichoderma harzianum PKRF1, was reintroduced into Tc-plants to evaluate its effect on plant growth and picroside biosynthesis. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics of PKRF1 were also conducted to elucidate its functional capabilities and possible candidates for its endophytic nature.Results Metagenomic analysis revealed a significant reduction in fungal diversity in Tc plants, with several taxa, including Trichoderma, Cyphellophora, and Preussia, exclusively associated with Wt-plants. Inoculation of Tc-plants with PKRF1 led to successful root colonization, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, biomass, and significantly higher levels of picrosides. Transcript profiling confirmed upregulation of key biosynthetic genes. Genomic analysis of PKRF1 revealed genes associated with multiple plant-beneficial traits, including nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production, stress tolerance, plant colonization, and competitive interactions, distinguishing it from non-endophytic Trichoderma isolates.Conclusions These findings provide the first comprehensive insight into changes in endophytic fungal diversity of P. kurrooa associated with in-vitro cultivation. Furthermore, the application of cultivated endophytes from wild plants demonstrated the potential to restore microbial functions lost during in-vitro propagation and enhance secondary metabolite production in cultivated plants. Overall, this approach offers a promising strategy to integrate metagenomic information into beneficial plant-microbe interactions for practical applications.

Climate change and human activities have accelerated soil salinization, threatening global food security and economic stability. Restoring salt-affected soils is essential to expand arable land and ensure sustainable agriculture. However, few studies integrate microbial genomic traits with functional validation in crops under high salt stress. This study evaluated the plant growth-promoting and salt tolerance potential of two microbial strains, Halobacillus marinus SL2 and Halomonas elongata DM6, isolated from the hypersaline environments of Sambhar Lake and Drang Mine, respectively, under 300 mM NaCl stress. Both strains underwent genome analysis and were assessed for their ability to enhance stress resilience and promote wheat growth. They tolerated up to 20% NaCl and pH 9, and exhibited key in vitro traits including phosphate and potassium solubilization, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that SL2 produced phytohormones such as indole-3-butyric acid, indole-3-propionic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, dihydrojasmonic acid, and kinetin, while DM6 primarily synthesized salicylic acid and kinetin. Both also produced osmoprotectants contributing to salt stress tolerance. In wheat assays, SL2 increased seed germination by 50% (P < 0.001) and DM6 by 47.7% (P < 0.0001); biomass increased by 46.6% (SL2; P < 0.01) and 53.7% (DM6; P < 0.05) over controls. Genomic analysis identified genes involved in ion homeostasis, compatible solute production, and plant growth enhancement. These findings suggest SL2 and DM6 are promising biofertilizer candidates for saline soils, capable of improving crop productivity, reducing chemical inputs, and supporting sustainable agriculture

Cryptomeria japonica, commonly known as "Sugi" or "Japanese cedar," is one of the most commercially important plantation species in Asia, valued for its durable heartwood and essential oil (EO) used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Traditionally, the EO has been used in Asian folk medicine for treating liver disorders, coughs, and ulcers due to its antimicrobial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the leaves (L) EO was extracted and characterized, followed by chromatographic separation of EO (L) by using column chromatography. Further, characterization was performed using GC-MS and GC-FID, and its antimicrobial potential was subsequently evaluated. A total of 56 compounds were identified, with major constituents in the EO (L) being sabinene (19.72%), alpha-pinene (19%), and kaurene (11.51%). Fraction "A" was enriched with kaurene (72.08%), neo-cembrene (5.81%), and sandaracopimaradiene (5.08%). The EO (L) showed strong antibacterial activity, particularly against gram-positive strains. Leaves EO displayed the highest zone of inhibition against Micrococcus luteus (27.67 mm) and Fusarium graminearum (28.67 mm), fraction "A" was most effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Fusarium graminearum, with inhibition zones of 30.33 mm and 33.33 mm, respectively. This study indicates that Fraction "A" is more potent than the pure EO, likely due to its high diterpene content. A network pharmacology analysis revealed that the STAT3 protein was crucial in bacterial immune response with the highest-scoring target. It suggests that the leaves EO and its chromatographed fractions could have potential applications in treating cancer, inflammatory diseases, and neurological disorders.

BACKGROUND:Khecheopalri Lake, a sacred freshwater body and recently recognized Ramsar Wetland site in Sikkim, India, holds both ecological and cultural significance. The ecological health of this lake is influenced by elemental inputs and environmental parameters, yet its microbial and functional diversity remain poorly characterized. In this study, we employed a multi-omics approach combining shotgun metagenomics, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and culture-dependent analyses to provide an integrated understanding of the lake's microbial ecosystem. Shotgun metagenomics revealed taxonomic diversity and functional gene profiles, ICP-MS quantified elemental composition and its potential role in shaping microbial communities, while culture-dependent methods complemented metagenomic insights by isolating representative taxa. Together, these approaches highlight the interactions between microbes and elemental dynamics, offering new perspectives on the ecological functioning of this Himalayan wetland and its potential vulnerability to environmental change. RESULTS:ICP-MS analysis revealed phosphorus (P) as the most abundant element, followed by iron (Fe), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K). Elevated BOD and COD levels in sample KES4 indicated organic pollution and coincided with the dominance of Microcystis aeruginosa, a cyanobacterium indicative of eutrophication. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing generated approximately 213 million reads, with bacteria constituting 98.85% of the community. Dominant phyla included Pseudomonadota and Cyanobacteria. Culturable isolates confirmed the presence of genera such as Limnohabitans, Microcystis, and Mycolicibacterium. Functional gene profiling showed that metabolism was the most enriched category (71.64%), with several genes (e.g., xylB, pchF, clcD) associated with xenobiotic degradation pathways. CONCLUSION:This first comprehensive metagenomic assessment of Khecheopalri Lake reveals diverse microbial populations involved in nutrient cycling and pollutant detoxification. The presence of genes linked to aromatic hydrocarbon degradation highlights the ecological potential of native microbes in mitigating environmental stress.

Solid waste management in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is a growing challenge, intensified by increasing population and tourism, which strain non-sanitary landfills. This study investigates microbial diversity and functional capabilities within these landfills using a high-throughput shotgun metagenomic approach. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the Manali and Mandi landfill sites were under heavy metal contamination and thermal stress. Taxonomic annotation identified a dominance of bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, with genera like Pseudomonas and Bacillus prevalent. Squeezemeta analysis generated 9,216,983 open reading frames (ORFs) across the sampling sites, highlighting diverse metabolic potentials for heavy metal resistance and degrading organic, xenobiotics and plastic wastes. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) identified distinct gene clusters in Manali and Mandi landfill sites, reflecting differences in pollution profiles. Functional redundancy of landfill microbiome was observed with notable xenobiotic and plastic degradation pathways. This is the first comprehensive metagenomic assessment of non-sanitary landfills in the IHR, providing valuable insights into the microbial roles in degrading persistent pollutants, plastic waste, and other contaminants in these stressed environments.

Reintroducing beneficial rhizosphere microbes associated with wild medicinal plants back into the rhizosphere during cultivation is expected to increase the efficacy of herbal medicine. However, the effectiveness of this approach for St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) has not been explored, nor has it been evaluated alongside other plant biostimulants, such as seaweed extract and non-host-specific plant-beneficial rhizobacteria, that may also impact plant growth and specialized metabolites. To fill these knowledge gaps, in present study a two-year factorial randomized block design experiment was conducted using vermicompost amendment and plant biostimulants, derived from microbial origin (consortia of host plant-associated and non-host-specific plant-beneficial rhizobacteria) and macroalgae-based (seaweed extract). Dry biomass yield of main medicinal material (Hyperici herba) significantly (P = 0.05) influenced by the interaction effect; while contents of specialized metabolites by individual treatments. Seaweed extract significantly maximized the contents of specialized metabolites, particularly pseudohypericin and hypericin; however, it substantially reduced the biomass yield. In both year, biomass yield was not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by the individual treatment of non-host-specific plant-beneficial rhizobacteria; however, in combination with vermicompost amendment at 5 Mg ha(-)(1) the biomass yield numerically increased compared to the seaweed extract treatment. Nevertheless, specialized metabolites were minimally increased by non-host-specific plant-beneficial rhizobacteria. Unlike seaweed extract and non-host-specific plant-beneficial rhizobacteria, host plant-associated rhizobacteria simultaneously enhanced specialized metabolites, especially hyperforin, and the biomass yield either alone or in combination. Across both years, the maximum biomass yield was achieved under the combined application of host plant-associated plant-beneficial rhizobacteria and vermicompost amendment at 5 Mg ha(-)(1). This treatment also improved net photosynthetic rate, internal water use efficiency, soil microbial biomass carbon, and respiration compared to control and rest of the treatments. Thus, the integrating host plant-associated plant-beneficial rhizobacteria with vermicompost amendment offers a sustainable approach to increase the efficacy of St. John's wort herbal medicine without compromising the biomass yield.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been linked to various health benefits, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects. Obesity, marked by abnormal fat deposition, increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes. Natural anti-adipogenic modulators with insulin sensitivity are one of the approaches to address the issue. In the present study, four distinct CLA-producing probiotic strains (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LUL:01, Latilactobacillus curvatus LGM:16, Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum LRJ1:09, and Enterococcus faecalis LJM:05) were assessed in vitro for their potential anti-adipogenic properties using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Out of four strains, LGM:16 inhibited lipid accumulation (100.27

Domestication procedures or changing habitats of medicinal plants significantly reduces the amount of plant specialized metabolites (PSMs). Previous studies have already shown the direct influence of rhizosphere microorganisms on PSMs. Hence, re-introducing plant-beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms selected from plants' natural habitats back into the rhizosphere during cultivation is expected to increase PSMs production. However, such efforts have not yet been made with Hypericum perforatum L. plants. Consequently, whether PSMs increase, decline, or remain unaffected remains elusive. Nevertheless, previous investigations have demonstrated that despite plant specificity, the PSMs increase after the inoculation of beneficial microorganisms. However, hitherto, the effectiveness of plant-specific (host plant-associated) beneficial rhizobacteria over un-specific (non-host plant-associated) rhizobacteria remains obscure. To fill these knowledge gaps, we first compared the bacterial community structure of wild H. perforatum rhizosphere with the experimental field and found significant discrepancies. We then attempted to reintegrate H. perforatum plants with plant-specific and un-specific beneficial rhizobacteria. The bacterial community assemblages significantly differed between wild and cultivated plants, even after reintegrating plants with plant-specific beneficial rhizobacteria. Nonetheless, plant-specific and unspecific beneficial rhizobacteria have distinctively tailored rhizosphere bacterial community composition. The bacterial species richness (Chao1) and diversity (Shannon index) were significantly highest in the rhizosphere of plants treated with plant-specific beneficial rhizobacteria. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonadaceae_MND1) and Burkholderiales_SC_I_84 were differentially abundant in the rhizospheres of plants treated with un-specific rhizobacteria. Notably, complete ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (comammox Nitrospira), Gemmatimonas, and Vicinamibacteraceae were differentially abundant in the rhizosphere of plants treated with plant-specific rhizobacteria. These taxa were associated with the highest accumulation of PSMs, corroborating the higher expression profiles of pivotal genes regulating their biosynthesis. This study enhances our understanding of how plant-specific and un-specific beneficial rhizobacteria distinctively shape rhizosphere bacterial communities' composition and differentially impact PSMs' biosynthesis, guiding future cultivation of H. perforatum.

Valeriana jatamansi, a Himalayan herb, is widely used in traditional systems of medicine and the flavour and fragrance industries. To optimize the drying conditions of V. jatamansi roots/rhizomes, the effects of drying techniques (sun-drying, shade-drying and oven-drying at 40 degrees C, 55 degrees C and 70 degrees C) were evaluated. Sun-drying and shade-drying significantly (p <= 0.05) increased the essential oil yield by about 26% and 22%, respectively, compared with the fresh sample. Drying at 40 degrees C increased (p <= 0.05) patchouli alcohol concentration, whereas shade-drying significantly increased (p <= 0.05) globulol and beta-gurjunene compared with the fresh sample. However, valtrate and acevaltrate concentrations were reduced by about 49%-65% and 59%-65%, respectively, with dried roots/rhizomes compared with the fresh sample. The loss of total phenols, flavonoids and soluble sugar was minimal in the shade-drying samples. The essential oils extracted from roots/rhizomes were active against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The most potent antioxidant capacity was found with the samples dried in the shade. Thus, it is also recommended that the roots/rhizomes should be dried in the open sun or shade for higher essential oil recovery and quality for industrial uses.

The pervasive use of petroleum-based food packaging has caused significant ecological damage due to their unsustainability and non-biodegradability. Polysaccharide-based biodegradable materials are promising alternatives, but low hydrophobicity and functional properties limit their practical applications which can be overcome by incorporation of phytochemical(s). Therefore, by leveraging the strong antioxidant and antibacterial potential of pterostilbene (PTB), we have developed PTB nanoemulsion (NE) incorporated chitosan/sodium alginate (CS/SA) film for food packaging applications. The PTBNE was prepared by high pressure homogenization and characterized for particle size distribution and morphology via DLS, TEM and AFM. The PTBNE CS/SA film was developed by solvent casting method and demonstrated improved mechanical, optical, water resistance and oxygen barrier properties as compared to native CS/SA film. The films were characterized via SEM, 3D optical profilometry, FTIR, XRD and TGA analysis to assess morphological and structural variations. Notably, incorporation of PTBNE in CS/SA matrix significantly enhanced the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of film along with biocompatibility in fibroblast cells. The developed PTBNE CS/SA film demonstrated comparable results with polythene in post harvested shiitake mushroom preservation up to 10 days with rapid soil degradation. Overall, the findings suggested that PTBNE CS/SA film can be a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based packaging materials.

Organic waste generation in colder regions is a major global concern. Proper management of organic waste is crucial to unlock valuable resources. Microbial-assisted organic waste valorization is an emerging field that focuses on transforming organic waste into value-added products by utilizing potential microorganisms, contributing to a circular and sustainable economy. Waste valorization in cold regions poses significant challenges due to environmental conditions and the inherent characteristics of the waste generated during various processes. Organic waste can serve as a potential reservoir of value-added products such as organic fertilizer, bioactive molecules, enzymes, organic acids, biopolymers and biofuels when harnessed through microbialassisted processes. Numerous studies have explored organic waste valorization in extremely cold environments, but the findings are scattered, prompting the need to compile and consolidate them into a comprehensive review. This review explores innovative approaches for the sustainable valorization of organic waste through microbial assistance in cold regions, addressing associated opportunities and challenges. Given the inevitability of organic waste generation in cold regions, the sustainable valorization presents an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This review advocates for the adoption of sustainable technologies, emphasizing microbial assistance in converting waste to wealth and promoting sustainable development in cold climates.

Chilling stress significantly impairs seed germination, crop growth, and yield, posing a significant agricultural challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the biostimulant properties of the psychrotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas putida IRS13 and its exopolysaccharide (EPS) in promoting wheat growth under chilling stress (6 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C). Their biostimulant efficacy was compared with chemical growth regulators, melatonin and acetylsalicylic acid. Additionally, key genes and metabolites of strain IRS13 involved in stress tolerance and plant growth promotion were identified. Isolated strain IRS13 was characterized, and it possesses plant growth-promoting activities such as indole acetic acid (IAA) production, nitrogen fixation, potassium mobilization, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity. Wheat seeds and seedlings were treated with strain IRS13, its EPS, melatonin, and acetylsalicylic acid at 6 +/- 2 degrees C. Strain IRS13 and its EPS treatment significantly enhanced plant growth, including morphological parameters (root and shoot length, root and shoot weight), physiological parameters (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid content) and wheat germination efficiency, compared to chemical treatments under chilling stress. Genomic analysis revealed genes involved in alginate EPS biosynthesis, oxidative stress alleviation, cold tolerance and plant growth promotion. Metabolomic profiling identified osmolytes (ectoine, betaine), phytohormones (zeatin, indole-3-acetic acid), melatonin, and acetylsalicylic acid. This is the first report demonstrating that purified EPS confers plant cold tolerance. The findings highlight the potential of Pseudomonas putida IRS13 and its EPS as sustainable biostimulants for improving crop resilience in cold agroecosystems.

The people of the Indian North-western Himalayas consume various traditional fermented foods, which may contribute to their healthy lifestyle. However, the probiotic diversity of the region is largely unknown. In the current study, indigenous Himalayan traditional foods (dairy products and alcoholic beverages) were investigated for probiotic diversity via culture-based and culture-independent methods and metabolites study. The culture-based taxonomic classification revealed the prevalence of probiotic genera Levilactobacillus, Latilactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Lacticaseibacillus, and Companilacobacillus, which differed from the genera identified through amplicon sequencing. Alpha diversity analysis revealed higher probiotic diversity in fermented dairy products (FDPs) than in the alcoholic beverages samples. Redundancy analysis revealed that food’s properties, like fat, ash, & moisture content, temperature, and electrical conductivity, influence the probiotic diversity in the samples. Additionally, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified high levels of methyl hexadecanoate and methyl linoleate in the food products. Metabolic functional predictions showed the dominance of anabolic pathways in dairy samples and catabolic pathways in alcoholic beverage samples. Overall, FDPs with superior nutritional properties and probiotic diversity could be considered a better choice as functional food.