Plant Growth Promoting Microbes as Biofertilizers: Promising solutions for sustainable agriculture under climate change associated abiotic stresses

Abstract

Abiotic stresses are major constraints for plant growth, crop yield and global food security. Plant physiological, biochemical and molecular processes are highly affected under unfavorable environmental conditions, resulting in substantial losses to crop productivity and requiring an immediate response. Abiotic stress resistant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a profitable and sustainable solution because of their efficiency in plant growth regulation, crop yield improvement and abiotic stress alleviation. They help plants to cope with growth inhibitory effects of abiotic stresses through several mechanisms, mainly phytohormones and osmolyte production, improvement of nutrient acquisition, enhancement of antioxidant system. Plant-PGPR interactions are vital for sustainable agriculture and industrial purposes, because they are based on biological processes and replace conventional agricultural practices. PGPR may play a key role as an ecological engineer to solve environmental stress problems. The use of microbes is a feasible and potential technology to help meeting the future global food needs with reduced impact on soil and environmental quality. Present review deals about the abiotic stresses (drought and salinity) affecting plant growth and highlights the impact of PGPR on restoration of plant growth under the stressful conditions with the goal of developing an ecofriendly and cost-effective strategy for agricultural sustainability.