Current Approaches for Alleviating Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crops: Role of Beneficial Microorganisms

Abstract

AbstractGlobal climate change is evolving as a potential threat to the sustainable food security. Abiotic stresses are the most important limiting factors to the agricultural crop productivity. Therefore, exploration of efficient and economical technologies for the alleviation of abiotic stresses in plants are necessary to encounter the food security. The rhizosphere and phyllosphere of plants are colonized by various microorganisms, establishing neutral, detrimental or beneficial associations with their respective host plants. The beneficial microorganisms sustain various physiological activities in plants under extreme climatic conditions. They also promote the abiotic stress tolerance of plants, thereby improving plant growth and productivity. Therefore, amelioration of abiotic stresses in crop plants by using the microorganisms is opening a promising avenue in enhancing the agricultural productivity. The chapter summarizes the role of beneficial microorganisms in enhancing the crop plants’ productivity though alleviation of abiotic stresses for the agricultural sustainability.KeywordsAbiotic stressCropMicroorganismHeavy metalsReactive oxygen speciesPlant growth-promoting bacteria