Root‐associated microbes in sustainable agriculture: models, metabolites and mechanisms

Abstract

Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928 and throughout the ‘age of antibiotics’ from the 1940s until the 1980s, the detection of novel antibiotics was restricted by lack of knowledge about the distribution and ecology of antibiotic producers in nature. The discovery that a phenazine compound produced by Pseudomonas bacteria could suppress soilborne plant pathogens, and its recovery from rhizosphere soil in 1990, provided the first incontrovertible evidence that natural metabolites could control plant pathogens in the environment and opened a new era in biological control by root‐associated rhizobacteria. More recently, the advent of genomics, the availability of highly sensitive bioanalytical instrumentation, and the discovery of protective endophytes have accelerated progress toward overcoming many of the impediments that until now have limited the exploitation of beneficial plant‐associated microbes to enhance agricultural sustainability. Here, we present key developments that have established the importance of these microbes in the control of pathogens, discuss concepts resulting from the exploration of classical model systems, and highlight advances emerging from ongoing investigations. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

High abundance of Ralstonia solanacearum changed tomato rhizosphere microbiome and metabolome

“…While the interactions happened in rhizosphere become attractive in plant and soil studies. Pathogen invasion even colonization can alter the composition of rhizosphere soil metabolites as well as microbial community, while in turn, the altered metabolites and microbial community can affect the colonization of pathogen [40,43]. This kind of dynamic cause-and-effect interaction results in a complex system.…”

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus velezensis BZR 336g, a Plant Growth-Promoting Antifungal Biocontrol Agent Isolated from Winter Wheat

“…Modern intensive agriculture is continuously being developed. There are many technologies that contribute to obtaining high yields of high-quality agricultural products; one of them is the use of effective biological products based on new microorganisms ( 1 , 2 ). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a heterogeneous group of root-attached microbiota that are able to produce secondary metabolites such as phytohormones, to improve nutrient delivery from the environment to plant tissues, and to suppress phytopathogens, resulting in the stimulation of host growth and development and affecting farming yields ( 3 ).…”

Effect of Ammonia and Indole-3-acetic Acid Producing Endophytic Klebsiella pneumoniae YNA12 as a Bio-Herbicide for Weed Inhibition: Special Reference with Evening Primroses

“…Conventional agriculture mostly relies on the use of heavy chemicals for higher agriculture productivity; however, the widespread use of chemicals in agriculture could threaten food safety [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In such situations, the use of phytohormone-producing microbial inoculants could be an ideal eco-friendly approach not only for promoting host plant growth and inhibiting weed growth but also for minimizing chemical input in agricultural systems [ 13 ]. Therefore, to produce safe agricultural products with eco-friendly methods and to minimize the use of chemical fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, and plant growth retardants, the use of plant-associated microbes may be considered to control pests and to retard the growth of unwanted plants [ 14 ].…”