Abstract
Grain legumes are an important component of sustainable agri-food systems. They establish symbiotic association with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, thus reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. Several other free-living microbial communities (PGPR—plant growth promoting rhizobacteria) residing in the soil-root interface are also known to influence biogeochemical cycles and improve legume productivity. The growth and function of these microorganisms are affected by root exudate molecules secreted in the rhizosphere region. PGPRs produce the chemicals which stimulate growth and functions of leguminous crops at different growth stages. They promote plant growth by nitrogen fixation, solubilization as well as mineralization of phosphorus, and production of phytohormone(s). The co-inoculation of PGPRs along with rhizobia has shown to enhance nodulation and symbiotic interaction. The recent molecular tools are helpful to understand and predict the establishment and function of PGPRs and plant response. In this review, we provide an overview of various growth promoting mechanisms of PGPR inoculations in the production of leguminous crops.
Highlights
Grain legumes (Family Leguminosae), called pulses, are high in protein content (20–25%) and form an essential part of daily diets across the globe
The significance of legumes for improvement and sustenance of soil fertility has been known since crop domestication
Mixed cropping, intercropping and crop rotations of non-legumes with legumes have been employed to capitalize on the biological nitrogen fixation
Summary
Grain legumes (Family Leguminosae), called pulses, are high in protein content (20–25%) and form an essential part of daily diets across the globe. The beneficial soil bacteria which colonize roots and their surroundings (rhizosphere) are collectively called plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) [1]. They form symbiotic, associative or neutral association with plants and have a significant influence on crop growth and development. The colonization potential of PGPRs is driven by chemo-taxis response with root exudates that either attract or deter rhizospheric microorganisms [8,9]. It is estimated that about 30% of plant photosynthates are released via root exudation [10], which consists of high and low molecular weight compounds like sugars, proteins, organic acids, flavonoids, mucilage, etc. The present review attempts to understand the role of PGPRs and their applications in leguminous crops
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