Bacterial Plant Biostimulants: A Sustainable Way towards Improving Growth, Productivity, and Health of Crops

Basharat Hamid, Muzafar Zaman, Shabeena Farooq, Sabah Fatima, R. Z. Sayyed, Zahoor Ahmad Baba, Tahir Ahmad Sheikh, Munagala S. Reddy, Hesham El Enshasy, Abdul Gafur and Ni Luh Suriani
Additional contact information
Basharat Hamid: Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Muzafar Zaman: Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Shabeena Farooq: Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Sabah Fatima: Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
R. Z. Sayyed: Department of Microbiology, PSGVP Mandal’s Arts, Science, and Commerce College, Shahada 425409, Maharashtra, India
Zahoor Ahmad Baba: Division of Basic Science and Humanities, FOA, Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Wadura 193201, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Tahir Ahmad Sheikh: Division of Agronomy, FOA, Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Wadura 193201, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Munagala S. Reddy: Asian PGPR Society for Sustainable Agriculture & Auburn Ventures, Department of Plant Pathology and Entomology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36830, USA
Hesham El Enshasy: Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
Abdul Gafur: Sinarmas Forestry Corporate Research and Development, Perawang 28772, Indonesia
Ni Luh Suriani: Biology Study Program, Mathematics and Natural Sciences Faculty, Udayana University, Bali 80361, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-24

Abstract: This review presents a comprehensive and systematic study of the field of bacterial plant biostimulants and considers the fundamental and innovative principles underlying this technology. Plant biostimulants are an important tool for modern agriculture as part of an integrated crop management (ICM) system, helping make agriculture more sustainable and resilient. Plant biostimulants contain substance(s) and/or microorganisms whose function when applied to plants or the rhizosphere is to stimulate natural processes to enhance plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, biocontrol, and crop quality. The use of plant biostimulants has gained substantial and significant heed worldwide as an environmentally friendly alternative to sustainable agricultural production. At present, there is an increasing curiosity in industry and researchers about microbial biostimulants, especially bacterial plant biostimulants (BPBs), to improve crop growth and productivity. The BPBs that are based on PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) play plausible roles to promote/stimulate crop plant growth through several mechanisms that include (i) nutrient acquisition by nitrogen (N 2 ) fixation and solubilization of insoluble minerals (P, K, Zn), organic acids and siderophores; (ii) antimicrobial metabolites and various lytic enzymes; (iii) the action of growth regulators and stress-responsive/induced phytohormones; (iv) ameliorating abiotic stress such as drought, high soil salinity, extreme temperatures, oxidative stress, and heavy metals by using different modes of action; and (v) plant defense induction modes. Presented here is a brief review emphasizing the applicability of BPBs as an innovative exertion to fulfill the current food crisis.

Keywords: abiotic stress; ethylene; jasomic acid; mineral solubilization; phytostimulants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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