Microbe-mediated abiotic stress alleviation: Molecular and biochemical basis

Abstract

Abiotic stress is one of the major factors limiting the crop production globally. Plants experience diverse abiotic stresses including higher concentration of salt (salinity), temperature extremities, and water shortage (drought or dehydration). Such stressors impair the normal metabolic functioning of the plant leading to poor growth and development. A wide range of adaptations and mitigation strategies are required to efficiently manage the deleterious impacts of such stresses. Development of tolerant varieties, shifting the crop calendars, and resource management practices are some examples of such strategies. However, most of these technologies are cost-intensive and are beyond the reach of the small and marginal farmers. Microorganisms are naturally endowed with the ability to sustain extreme environmental conditions and also help other living beings in vicinity/association to cope with such stress to certain extent. Microorganisms through induction of systemic tolerance, modulation of plant defense mechanisms, and improvement of nutrition and growth can effectively alleviate or reduce the effect of stress. Hence, application of stress-alleviating microorganisms for crop production holds considerable potential to become a sustainable option to combat abiotic stresses.