Microbial-Mediated Molecular Mechanisms to Cope Up Salinity and Drought Stress in Plants

Abstract

Salinity and drought stress are the major abiotic stresses and are threat towards the sustainable agriculture production. Abiotic stresses have an adverse impact on plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes, lowering productivity. The plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and endophytic fungi are microorganisms present in nature in association with plants with potential to increase the growth under such conditions. Such microorganisms can enhance the nutrient uptake, antioxidant system and phytohormones regulation by influencing the epigenetic factors in plant cell leading to modulation of genes ultimately resulting in better stress tolerance and survival. Though many microorganisms have been identified in the past with potential for utilisation as exogenous bio-inoculants, their genetic and molecular studies remain less summarised. More importantly, a detail summarisation of accumulated data till date discussing major genetic and molecular factors involved during microbial-assisted stress tolerance is highly desirable and necessary for future management. Henceforth, we summarise the drought and salinity stress responses in plants through physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanism under the influence of microorganisms inoculation and stress mitigation through these plant-growth-promoting microorganisms.