Emerging significance of rhizospheric probiotics and its impact on plant health: Current perspective towards sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Plants act as a shelter for vast numbers of microorganisms known as plant micro-biome which is the key to plant health. Microbial population residing in plants interacts with plants through a series of complex mechanism. The plant microbe interactions can be beneficial, neutral or detrimental depending upon the nature of microbiome in the plant. Plant roots and rhizosphere are the most populated regions of plant where microbial activity is highest due to the secretion of bioactive compounds from roots. The beneficial soil microorganisms are also known as plant probiotics and have the potential to improve plant health and fitness both in natural and adverse environmental conditions. The microorganism which acts as potential probiotics utilized for the manufacturing of biofertilizers because they serve in promoting plant growth and it is now possible to formulate any type of probiotics, because of their common physiological characters. In the present chapter, the main focus is given to the rhizospheric microbiome which functions as plant probiotics and the importance of rhizospheric probiotics in plant growth promotion during stressed conditions. The chapter also includes the details for the delivery of successful biofertilizers by combining various probiotics and guidelines for their registration for providing a safe and efficient biofertilizer in the market.