Exopolysaccharides of paenibacillus polymyxa rhizobacteria in plant-bacterial interactions

Abstract

Paenibacillus polymyxa (formerly known as Bacillus polymyxa), a nonpathogenic endospore-forming rhizobacterium, is one of the most industrially interesting facultative anaerobes. It is an active producer of various biologically active substances, including exopolysaccharides, which possess a range of unique properties. This chapter outlines the present state of research on P. polymyxa bacteria, their ecology and biotechnological potential, and the mechanisms of their stimulatory effect on plants. Special emphasis is placed on the structural-functional characterization of P. polymyxa exoglycans and on their important role in the establishment of plant-microbe associations.