Survival of a potential bacterial biocontrol agent in the soil and its impact on microbial communities

SCL1 persisted for at least 6 months in soil microcosms and induced small shifts in bacterial and fungal communities, comparable with reference products. These findings support further field studies to evaluate the efficacy of SCL1 against S. sclerotiorum in rapeseed crops, as well as its persistence and potential non-target effects on soil microbiota. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.