Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR): Current and Future Prospects for Crop Improvement

Abstract

Population growth and high food demand is the biggest problem of the world. It is necessary to find and apply new techniques in agricultural to enhance the productivity. The chemicals used in agriculture increase yield, kill pathogens, pests, and weeds but harm the ecosystem severely. With increasing concerns about the agrochemicals side effects, a better alternative can be used of microorganisms to the plants and rhizosphere microbial populations. Use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been found to be a potential alternative and promising technique compared to old routinely used technique which is increasing the burden of pollution to the soil in agriculture. Naturally occurring soil microflora present in the rhizosphere adheres to the surface of the plant roots and imparts beneficial effect on plant growth and production. PGPR are known as biofertilizers and are used for soil quality improvement; they are key players for improvement in agriculture yields. Phytopathogens affect plant health, which is a major threat to sustainable agriculture worldwide. PGPRs apply different mechanisms to protect plants from disease also help plant to grow healthy under environmental stresses. In this chapter, PGPR mediated different mechanisms are discussed that help plants in healthy growth. This approach to improve sustainable agriculture with the use of PGPRs can be commercialized by using PGPR with global applicability.