Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria: Multifunctional Biological Tool for Sustainable Agriculture

Аннотация

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial soil microorganisms that enhance plant growth and stress resilience through diverse physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. These bacteria facilitate nutrient acquisition via biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore-mediated iron sequestration, and phytohormone biosynthesis, while modulating plant ethylene levels through 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. Beyond their established role as biofertilizers, PGPR confer tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and heavy metal toxicity by reinforcing antioxidant defense systems and improving osmotic homeostasis. They also suppress phytopathogens through antibiosis and activation of induced systemic resistance (ISR). Recent advances in nano-enabled formulations further enhance microbial stability, colonization efficiency, and field performance. This spotlight highlights the multifunctional role of PGPR as a sustainable biological tool for improving crop productivity and resilience under changing environmental conditions.