Biodiversity and biotechnological applications of rhizomicrobiome for agricultural, environmental and industrial sustainability

Abstract

A century of incremental research along with the technological advances and need for sustainable agricultural practices, the study of beneficial rhizomicrobiomes has increased. Rhizomicrobiomes have emerged as an important and promising tool for sustainable agriculture. These plant associated microbiomes play a major role in plant growth promotion by direct and indirect mechanisms and are generally referred to as plant growth promoting microbes. Plant growth promoting microbes also act as the stress alleviators for plants by increasing the accumulation of the osmolytes, reducing the inhibitory ethylene concentrations and producing reactive oxygen species scavengers. These beneficial microbes can be applied to the plants as biofertilizers and biopesticides to reduce the use of the harmful chemicals as well as for the amelioration of abiotic stresses. The present chapter describes the functional diversity of the rhizomicrobiomes, their agricultural and environmental applications further highlighting their role in industrial sector. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.