Microbes for Iron Chlorosis Remediation in Peach

Abstract

Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] suffers from iron chlorosis when grown in calcareous soils due to low iron availability. Traditionally, soil and foliar application of ferrous sulphate, Fe-EDTA, Fe-EDDHA chelates, etc. is used as a corrective measure of chlorosis. The latter practice is quite effective. However, variable responses have been reported. Therefore, foliar spray cannot yet be considerd as a reliable method to control lime-induced chlorosis. Bioremediation constitutes innovative approaches for chlorosis correction. Iron fixations in calcareous soil, iron uptake by plants, and advance detection techniques and correction strategies in plants for iron chlorosis have been discussed in this chapter. The microbe-mediated correction strategies are identified as eco-friendly.