Plant and soil-associated biofilm-forming bacteria: Their role in green agriculture

Abstract

Soil and plant-associated bacteria play a significant role as plant growth regulators as well as plant defense activators and can exist in planktonic (free-swimming) form or sessile form (biofilm; attached to surfaces). Plant and soil surface-associated bacteria can promote plant growth in multiple ways such as nutrient cycling, mineral solubilization, and protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. Biofilm bacteria play an important role in enhancing soil fertility and bioremediation. In the past, the plant growth-promoting bacteria were considered to exist in planktonic form only, and the biofilm commodities were not well understood. However, with the advance in biofilm mode of growth of microbes, it has been discovered that soil and plant growth-promoting microbes such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium, form robust biofilms in soil and on plant surfaces. In this chapter, we discuss the importance of plant and soil bacteria-associated biofilms and their significance for the green agriculture practices.