Rhizobium in Rice Yield and Growth Enhancement

Abstract

The agricultural industry faces issues that affect its productivity such as fertility, pests, pathogens, and climate change. In line with moving towards sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly approaches such as biofertilizers, biopesticides, and bioremediation have been implemented through the utilization of various types of microbial inoculums such as PGPRs. PGPRs exert their influence on plants through the production of various determinants such as siderophores, enzymes, lipopolysaccharide, exopolysaccharide, lipopeptides, and signal molecules such as salysilic acid. These compounds are capable of promoting growth and yield directly through processes such as nitrogen fixation, siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, phytohormone production, and ACC deaminase. Indirectly, these organisms address biotic and abiotic stresses through the induction of systemic resistance, biocontrol, and stress management. While the role of Rhizobium has been extensively researched in legumes, the information derived in non-legume systems has not been as extensive. Here, we provide a brief overview of the role of Rhizobium species in increasing the yield and growth of rice.