Harnessing indigenous bacterial defenders to improve disease resistance and plant health in vegetable Brassica crops

Vegetable crops in the Brassicaceae family have significant economic and nutritional value, supporting livelihoods worldwide. Despite ongoing efforts to control pathogens, infections continue to degrade crop quality and yield. Rising disease incidence, coupled with restrictions on chemical treatments and limited alternatives, has heightened the need for new, sustainable disease management approaches. The plant microbiome plays a crucial role in sustaining plant health and resilience under stress. Harnessing the microbiome provides an environmentally friendly means to enhance crop production by improving disease resistance. This review summarises knowledge on how beneficial bacteria could be used to enhance plant health and disease resistance in Brassica crops, highlighting a preference for indigenous bacteria adapted to local growing conditions. We explore the composition and dynamics of the Brassica bacterial microbiome, detailing functional characteristics, biocontrol mechanisms, and potential approaches to optimise the balance between Brassica growth and defence under stress. We discuss methodologies for identifying and characterising beneficial bacteria, their applications and management, and emphasise challenges hindering broad implementation. This synthesis shows that utilising indigenous Brassica-associated bacteria through careful isolation, multi-traits assessment, and the development of region-specific consortia offers the most reliable path to sustainable disease management. This approach links ecological adaptation with practical agricultural applications.