Phyllospheric microflora and its impact on plant growth: A review

Abstract

The phyllosphere refers to the habitat provided by the aboveground parts of plants and on a global scale supports a large and complex microbial community. Microbial interactions in the phyllosphere can affect the fitness in natural communities and the productivity of agricultural crops. The structure of phyllospheric communities reflects immigration, survival and growth of microbial colonists, which is influenced by numerous environmental factors in addition to leaf physico-chemical properties. Culture-independent microbiological technologies as well advances in plant genetics and biochemistry provide methodological preconditions for exploring the interactions between plants and their microbiome in the phyllosphere. We are trying to focus here on the current knowledge of the composition of the foliar microbiome, its impact on plant growth and techniques for study of this science.

Role of Dominant Phyllosphere Bacteria with Plant Growth–Promoting Characteristics on Growth and Nutrition of Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…The various parameters involved may include moisture availability, ultraviolet variation, temperature, nutrients and resources availability, inter-and intraspecific competition, pesticide, biological control agent application, and the presence of pathogenic populations (Hirano and Upper 2000;Lindow and Brandl 2003). The adaptive molecular change during microbial evolution often results in enhanced adaption to biotic and abiotic factors (Finkel et al 2011;Knief et al 2011;Bokulich et al 2014;Chaudhary et al 2017). The genotype of the organism could also plays an important role, as some phyllospheric bacteria are capable to modify their local environment, increase the leakage of nutrients from the host plant, and produce endospore and EPS to resist environmental insults (Beattie and Lindow 1999;Jacobs et al 2005;Vorholt 2012;Toyota 2015).…”

“…According to the above explanations, the role of geographical areas in the ability of bacteria to express the PGP traits can be well observed. Phyllospheric bacteria promote plant growth in many ways, including N 2 fixing, phosphate dissolution, and produce siderophore and plant hormones such as IAA (Yadav et al 2010;Chaudhary et al 2017;Rossmann et al 2017;Parasuraman et al 2019). The property of synthesizing IAA is considered as effective tool for screening beneficial microorganisms suggesting that IAA-producing bacteria have a profound effect on plant growth (Wahyudi et al 2011).…”

“…The mechanisms of plant growth stimulation by phyllobacteria are nitrogen (N) fixation, phosphorus (P) solubilization, siderophore production, and secreting various hormones like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (Yadav et al 2010;Chaudhary et al 2017;Rossmann et al 2017;Parasuraman et al 2019). Many phyllosphere bacteria are able to synthesize growth-promoting hormones including IAA which extensively affects plant growth and development (Ferrara et al 2012;Mwajita et al 2013;Souza et al 2015;Batool et al 2016).…”

TRFLP analysis for revealing the diversity of rice phyllosphere bacteria

“…Knowledge of composition and diversity of rice phyllosphere bacteria is necessary for explaining the microbial mechanism inducing sustainable rice cultivation. The phyllosphere microbiology could be applied to the field of microbial ecology and contribute to more effective and environmentally friendly means of plant protection (Chaudhary et al 2017). To describe the structure of rice phyllosphere bacteria taxa, the culture-independent method has often been used by researchers.…”

Rice phyllosphere bacteria producing antifungal compounds as biological control agents of blast disease

“…Phyllosphere bacteria are capable to protect host plants from pathogens through indirect mechanisms such as production of antimicrobial compounds and competition of resources. Antimicrobial compounds will be secreted by phyllosphere bacteria in order to create a competitive environment for inhibiting the growth of plant pathogens (Chaudhary et al 2017). Bacteria producing antimicrobial compounds especially antifungal properties have been studied and applied to manage plant pathogens.…”