Rhizosphere bacteria help plants tolerate abiotic stress

• Published in: Trends in plant science Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Yang, Jungwook, Kloepper, Joseph W., Ryu, Choong-Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2009; [Kidlington, Oxford, UK]: Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: abiotic stress; beneficial microorganisms; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; metabolism; microbiology; nutrient uptake; physiology; Plant Development; plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; Plant Roots; Plant Roots - microbiology; plant stress; Plants; Plants - metabolism; Plants - microbiology; Rhizobiaceae; Rhizobiaceae - physiology; rhizosphere bacteria; salt stress; Sodium Chloride; Sodium Chloride - metabolism; Soil Microbiology; soil nutrients; stress tolerance; Stress, Physiological; Symbiosis; Rhizosphere; Bacteria; Plant sciences; Abiotic stress
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2008.10.004

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are associated with plant roots and augment plant productivity and immunity; however, recent work by several groups shows that PGPR also elicit so-called ‘induced systemic tolerance’ to salt and drought. As we discuss here, PGPR might also increase nutrient uptake from soils, thus reducing the need for fertilizers and preventing the accumulation of nitrates and phosphates in agricultural soils. A reduction in fertilizer use would lessen the effects of water contamination from fertilizer run-off and lead to savings for farmers.