Soil Microorganisms for Plant Growth Promotion and Soil Health

Soil Microorganisms for Plant Growth Promotion and Soil Health provides readers with an overview of plant growth-promoting microorganisms residing in the soil and their molecular mechanisms to improve plant growth and soil health. A soil beneficial microbe cannot only be the living cells, but also their components, such as molecules or enzymes produced by this beneficial microbiota. Molecules like microbial phytohormones can be excellent promoters or regulators of plant growth, as well as proteins and other compounds like volatiles, which might elicit a systemic resistance response against pathogenic threats. Therefore, plant growth promoters living in soil, associated with plant roots, could act through direct beneficial interactions with the plant, by stimulating or regulating growth responses to environmental conditions, or indirectly by inhibiting the growth of potential microbial pathogens and herbivore pests. Uncovering the critical mechanisms of action and the fundamental role of soil microorganisms will boost our knowledge to execute sustainable strategies in agricultural production, resulting in healthier soils and thus encouraging food security worldwide. In addition, this book introduces a noteworthy emphasis on fungi. "Soil Microorganisms for Plant Growth Promotion and Soil Health" provides students and researchers in soil science with a comprehensive understanding of soil microbiota diversity and functions, along with insights into the mechanisms by which plan growth, including molecular processes involved in nutrient acquisitions and defense mechanisms.