Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: A biological approach toward the production of sustainable agriculture

Abstract

The plant growth-promoting rhizobaeteria (PGPR) are naturally occur- ring soil bacteria that aggressively colonize plant roots and benefit plants by provid- ing growth promotion. Inoculation of crop plants with certain strains of PGPR at an early stage of development improves biomass production through direct effects on root and shoot growth. These PGPR can enhance plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms like nutrient solubilization (P, K, and Zn), siderophore production, bio- logical nitrogen fixation (BNF), rhizosphere engineering, phytohormone produc- tion, exhibiting antifungal activity, production of volatile organic compounds (VOC), induction of systemic resistance (ISR), promoting beneficial plant-microbe symbioses, interference with pathogen toxin production, etc. The potentiality of PGPR in agriculture is steadily increased as it offers an attractive way to replace the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other supplements. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018. All rights reserved.