Role of micro-organisms in abiotic stress management

Abstract

Plant-associated microorganisms such as rhizobacteria and symbiotic fungi operate through a variety of mechanisms like triggering osmotic response and induction of novel genes in plants. The development of stress tolerant crop varieties through genetic engineering and plant breeding is essential but a long drawn process, whereas microbial inoculation to alleviate stresses in plants could be a more cost effective environmental friendly option which could be available in a shorter time frame. Some microbial species and strains could play an important role for understanding plant tolerance to stress, adaptation to stress, and mechanisms that develop in plants under stress conditions. Selection of micro-organisms from stressed ecosystems may contribute to the concept of biotechnology application in agriculture.