Sustainable agriculture and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

Abstract

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are naturally occurring soil bacteria that colonize the roots of the plant and promote the plants in terms of their growth. Biomass of the crops is enhanced if the PGPR are supplied to the crop plants at a very early stage of their growth. Inoculation of crops with PGPR may result in multiple effects such as seedling germination, plant height, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, nutrient content and increased nodulation in soybean crop. They help in increasing nitrogen fixation in soybean crop and also help in promoting free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria; increase supply of other nutrients such as phosphorus and produce plant hormones. They control fungal and bacterial diseases.