Role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Combating Abiotic Stress in Crops

Abstract

The diverse assemblage of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) existing in the rhizosphere can contribute towards the improvement in the magnitude or essence of plant development both directly as well as indirectly. Direct impacts engross the generation of phyto primary metabolites such as auxins, gibberellic acids (GA) and cytokinins (CKs), while indirect effects include disease suppression via antibiotic production. Under direful environmental anomalies such as water scarcity, excess water and salinity, metallic toxicities and temperature extremes, the PGPRs contribute significantly in attenuating the plant stress. The detrimental effects of salinity and metal toxicity could be diminished through PGPR mediated phytoremediation which is projected to be fruitful in soils afflicted with high salt and heavy metal contents. Thus, the current article highlights the activities of PGPRs and their employment in discounting the inapt effects of abiotic detriments on crop plants.