Plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere are the determinants of plant health,
productivity and soil fertility. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are bacteria
that can enhance plant growth and protect plants from disease and abiotic stresses
through a wide variety of mechanisms; those that establish close associations with
plants, such as the endophytes, could be more successful in plant growth promotion.
Several important bacterial characteristics, such as biological nitrogen fixation,
phosphate solubilization, ACC deaminase activity, and production of siderophores and
phytohormones, can be assessed as plant growth promotion (PGP) traits. Bacterial
inoculants can contribute to increase agronomic efficiency by reducing production
costs and environmental pollution, once the use of chemical fertilizers can be
reduced or eliminated if the inoculants are efficient. For bacterial inoculants to
obtain success in improving plant growth and productivity, several processes involved
can influence the efficiency of inoculation, as for example the exudation by plant
roots, the bacterial colonization in the roots, and soil health. This review presents
an overview of the importance of soil-plant-microbe interactions to the development
of efficient inoculants, once PGPB are extensively studied microorganisms,
representing a very diverse group of easily accessible beneficial bacteria.
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