Plant Growth and Health Promoting Bacteria (Microbiology Monographs Book 18)

To cope with the increasing problems created by agrochemicals such as plant fertilizers, pesticides and other plant protection agents, biological alternatives have been developed over the past years. These include biopesticides, such as bacteria for the control of plant diseases, and biofertilizer to improve crop productivity and quality. Especially plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are as effective as pure chemicals in terms of plant growth enhancement and disease control, in addition to their ability to manage abiotic and other stresses in plants. The various facets of these groups of bacteria are treated in this Microbiology Monograph, with emphasis on their emergence in agriculture. Further topics are Bacillus species that excrete peptides and lipopeptides with antifungal, antibacterial and surfactant activity, plant-bacteria-environment interactions, mineral-nutrient exchange, nitrogen assimilation, biofilm formation and cold-tolerant microorganisms. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Benefits of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Rhizobia in Agriculture....Pages 1-20 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria: Fundamentals and Applications....Pages 21-43 Potential of PGPR in Agricultural Innovations....Pages 45-79 Importance of Biofilm Formation in Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacterial Action....Pages 81-95 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria: Constraints in Bioformulation, Commercialization, and Future Strategies....Pages 97-116 Antifungal Compounds of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Its Action Mode....Pages 117-156 Role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases and Sustainable Agriculture....Pages 157-195 Potential of Bacilli for Biocontrol and Its Exploitation in Sustainable Agriculture....Pages 197-209 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria as Biocontrol Agents Against Soil-Borne Plant Diseases....Pages 211-230 Sustainable Approaches for Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt in Pigeon Pea ( Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh)....Pages 231-249 Plant Growth Promoter Rhizobacteria in Plants Inhabiting Harsh Tropical Environments and Its Role in Agricultural Improvements....Pages 251-272 Cold-Tolerant Agriculturally Important Microorganisms....Pages 273-296 The Role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Sustainable and Low-Input Graminaceous Crop Production....Pages 297-315 Rice Endophytic Diazotrophic Bacteria....Pages 317-332 Bacillus and Paenibacillus spp.: Potential PGPR for Sustainable Agriculture....Pages 333-364 The Role of ACC Deaminase Producing PGPR in Sustainable Agriculture....Pages 365-385 The Role of the C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Carbon Balance Dynamics of the Legume–AMF–Rhizobium Tripartite Symbiotic Association....Pages 387-416 Regulation of Nitrogen Assimilation in Foliar Fed Legume Plants at Insufficient Molybdenum Supply....Pages 417-431 Back Matter....Pages 433-445