Plant-Microbe Interaction in Sustainable Agriculture: The Factors That May Influence the Efficacy of PGPM Application

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has caused considerable environmental damage over the years. However, the growing demand for food in the coming years and decades requires the use of increasingly productive and efficient agriculture. Several studies carried out in recent years have shown how the application of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) can be a valid substitute for chemical industry products and represent a valid eco-friendly alternative. However, because of the complexity of interactions created with the numerous biotic and abiotic factors (i.e., environment, soil, interactions between microorganisms, etc.), the different formulates often show variable effects. In this review, we analyze the main factors that influence the effectiveness of PGPM applications and some of the applications that make them a useful tool for agroecological transition.

Characteristics of rhizosphere and endogenous bacterial community of Ulleung-sanmaneul, an endemic plant in Korea: application for alleviating salt stress

“…Beneficial microbes promote plant growth or induce resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses through several mechanisms, such as nutrient mobilization, phytohormone production, competition for space and nutrients, and antibiosis 43 . Moreover, the traits of individual microbes can be combined to enhance their beneficial effects 44 and the traits in the community cannot be predicted from individual members.…”

Fungi That Promote Plant Growth in the Rhizosphere Boost Crop Growth

“…PGPF stimulate enzymes, such as inorganic acids, organic acids, phosphatases, and phytase, for complex organic phosphorous solubilization and mineralization into various small molecules [ 16 ]. The mineralization of nutrients in the soil mediated by PGPF carries out a special function in plant growth improvement.…”

“…For example, PGPF and AMF have been reported to reduce caesium assimilation by plants [ 124 ] and therefore could be employed in the production of plantations on soil contaminated with radionuclides and so possess the ability to decrease danger caused to the environment. PGPF and AMF also possess the ability to monitor the toxicity of the soil [ 16 ] and its effectiveness. The application of AMF features as a sign of changes happening during soil restoration and a tool for biological observation of the soil quality.…”

“…They were known for improving the defense mechanisms and growth in plants [ 15 ]. PGPF applications suppress the usage of agrochemicals and likewise prevent plants from biotic and abiotic stresses [ 16 ]. Various studies reported the following PGPF genera ( Gliocladium , Penicillium , Phoma , Phytophthora , Rhizoctonia , Talaromyces , Trichoderma ) to improve tomato [ 15 ], orange [ 10 ], apple [ 17 ], pear [ 18 ], cucumber [ 19 ], carrot [ 20 ], and other plants’ growth and further promote the plants’ innate immunity and the production of various necessary secondary metabolites by the plants.…”

Optimization and identification of siderophores produced by Pseudomonas monteilii strain MN759447 and its antagonism toward fungi associated with mortality in Dalbergia sissoo plantation forests

“…Also, siderophore-assisted bioremediation of toxic contaminants holds promise (Rani et al, 2022). Commercialization of siderophore-producing bacteria as bio-inoculants will thus enable the control of several fungal plant diseases by depriving iron-scavenging pathogens (Basu et al, 2021;Malgioglio et al, 2022) and holds the promise of achieving sustainable agriculture goals. Quantitative assay for siderophore production…”