Plant-Microbe Interaction and Their Role in Mitigation of Heat Stress

Abstract

Out of all the abiotic stress, heat stress is considered one of the detrimental factors that limit crop yield worldwide. Temperature modulates the normal physiology, morphology, genetic behavior, and a series of biochemical events in plants. Researchers are endlessly putting their efforts into solving this global problem through biological means. The use of beneficial microorganisms for the elevation of heat stress in plants is an emerging horizon of today’s research. Interaction of plants with soil microbes such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and bacterial or fungal endophytes helps in the mitigation of heat or chilling stress and promotes plant growth. These microorganisms in interaction with plants stimulate the production of essential phytohormones, secondary metabolites, organic acids, and amino acids that helps the plant to overcome heat stress. This chapter mainly focuses on the amelioration of temperature stress through the use of beneficial soil microbes.