Direct plant growth-promoting ability of actinobacteria in grain legumes

Abstract

Grain legumes are important crops especially in developing countries for their high nutrient values. In a country like India where many people are vegetarian, they are a source of dietary protein. In addition to their food values, they are also a source of livestock fodder. They also can be used as biofertilizer due to their ability to fix nitrogen thereby making them the ideal crops for use in crop rotation. The role of bacteria including Bacillus and Pseudomonas in plant growth promotion is well established in various crops including grain legumes. While actinobacteria have not been fully explored for potential application in sustainable agriculture, their ubiquitous presence and capability for producing various plant growth-promoting traits make them an ideal candidate for use as biofertilizer for plants. The current chapter discusses the various direct plant growth-promoting abilities of actinobacteria with special reference to grain legumes.