What benefits of Bacillus sphaericus have been cited in the scientific literature?
Bacillus sphaericus — now widely reclassified as Lysinibacillus sphaericus — has accumulated ten peer-reviewed benefit citations spanning plant growth promotion and vector biocontrol. For growers asking what the research says about Bacillus sphaericus nitrogen fixation, one study of strain UPMB-10 in young oil palm reported that an estimated 63% of plant nitrogen uptake derived from atmospheric N₂ fixation, with significantly increased N content and dry matter yields in leaflets and rachis.
Strain ZA9, previously identified as B. sphaericus, is cited in the literature for phosphate and potassium solubilization, and for enhancing seed germination, seedling vigor, and shoot length of cucumber and tomato in greenhouse trials. Separately, a PGPR blend containing strain AP282 applied at half the normal nitrogen fertilizer rate yielded comparable forage biomass and quality to a full nitrogen rate in bermudagrass hay production; all PGPR treatments in that study also increased soil microbial respiration over time.
1Potential claims from the literature
Reported to contribute to biological nitrogen fixation in young oil palm, with an estimated 63% of plant N uptake derived from atmospheric N₂ fixation when inoculated with B. sphaericus UPMB-10, and significantly increased N and dry matter yields of palm leaflets and rachis
Reported to solubilize phosphates (P) and potassium (K) (as Lysinibacillus sphaericus ZA9, a strain previously identified as Bacillus sphaericus)
Reported to solubilize potassium (K) (as Lysinibacillus sphaericus ZA9, a strain previously identified as Bacillus sphaericus)
Reported to enhance seedling vigor, seed germination, and shoot length of cucumber and tomato in greenhouse experiments when seeds were pretreated with L. sphaericus ZA9 (a strain previously identified as Bacillus sphaericus)
Reported that a PGPR blend including Bacillus sphaericus AP282 applied with a half rate of nitrogen fertilizer yielded similar forage biomass and quality as a full rate of nitrogen fertilizer in bermudagrass hay production
Reported that all PGPR treatments including a blend containing Bacillus sphaericus AP282 increased soil microbial respiration over time
Reported to suppress larval and adult populations of Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of bancroftian filariasis, in field evaluations
Reported to reduce infection rate and mean parasite burden of Wuchereria bancrofti in Culex quinquefasciatus adults emerged from B. sphaericus-treated larvae, with the bacterium and its 41.9-kDa toxic protein carried over from larvae to adults
Reported to be effective in suppressing anopheline larval populations as a biocontrol agent against malaria vectors in field conditions
Reported to be commercially developed and used as a primary entomopathogen for control of medically important dipteran vectors (as Lysinibacillus sphaericus)
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