13 - Harnessing the potential of genetically improved bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture: Recent advances and perspectives

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture is a promising concept to achieve food security for the ever-increasing world population under the climate change scenario. Microbial communities are highly responsive to environmental cues, and their structure, composition, and functions can be altered in response to changing conditions. These communities play a crucial role in integrated nutrient management (INM) as they provide an economical renewable source of plant nutrients that supplements chemical fertilizers. Currently, microbial bioinoculants are widely used as microbial biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biocontrol agents in the developing countries like India. Several microorganisms have been identified and commercialized for applications as biofertilizers for crop plants. Microbial bioinoculants may possess certain limitations, which reduces the activities/effectiveness of bioinoculants. Recent developments in the genetic engineering tools made it possible to alter/modify one or more number of genes of a microorganism which leads to increase in production of certain metabolites, survival, and adeptness in soil. Genetic engineering and genome-editing approaches are being used for strain improvement via genetically engineered microbial systems (GEMSs) and genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs) for owning known and advanced functional characteristics. The genetically modified beneficial traits are applied for improving plant nutrition, soil microbial health, and protection of plants for biotic and abiotic stresses toward increasing the crop productivity. This chapter deals with basics on need of genetic modifications and traits manipulated in the microbes and their potential applications to promote sustainable agriculture and food security.