Growth stimulation, nutrient quality and management of vegetable diseases using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Abstract

Vegetables play an important role in human nutrition. And hence, to produce quality vegetables is a major challenge for growers. In order to optimize vegetable production, growers quite often use a heavy dose of agrochemicals without considering the deleterious impact of such chemicals on vegetables. Researchers have tried to minimize the use of agrochemicals in vegetable production vis-a-vis to develop resistant varieties, but all such approaches have been unsuccessful. The excessive use of agrochemicals can be replaced by "biofertilizers" especially plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for producing safe and healthy vegetables without posing any threat to the environment. Moreover, as a biocontrol agent, PGPR will be useful in the management of vegetable diseases. In this chapter, some successful stories of PGPR applications in growth stimulation of popularly grown vegetables are described. Also, the disease suppressing ability of PGPR is considered and discussed. The strategy of incorporating low cost rhizotechnology in vegetable production system is likely to reduce dependence on chemicals applied by vegetable growers.