The importance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for plant productivity

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815355-0.00004-7

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) naturally colonizes the plant roots and has positive effects on plant growth and physiology. In the soil ecosystem, PGPRs are responsible for a broad scope of biotic activities which improve soil nutrient turnover. They are diversely found in the soils worldwide and essential for sustainable agriculture and soil fertility. To achieve more sustainable agricultural solutions by integrated management of plant nutrients, rhizobacteria are commonly studied for agricultural benefits such as heavy metal detoxification, environmental cleanup strategies, salinity tolerance, degradation of pesticides, nitrogen fixation, secretion of plant growth hormone, defense against pathogens, and phosphate solubilization. For these reasons the importance of PGPRs in plant productivity has recently been attracting a great deal of attention. Biofertilizers with PGPR promote the growth of host plants by increasing nutrient uptake and can be an alternative to mineral fertilizers. This review describes PGPRs, including what is known regarding the role of PGPR in plant development and physiology, and considers which activities and characteristics of PGPRs are essential for the development.