Plant–Microbe Association for Mutual Benefits for Plant Growth and Soil Health

The beneficial associations of plants and microbes exemplify a complex and multi-organ system composed of participatory organisms and the environmental forces acting on them. Current knowledge of plant-microbe symbiosis involves a series of associations with varying degrees of intimacy and mutual dependence. Generally, rhizosphere microbes can help the plant by maintaining nutrient recycling, hormones production, preventing microbial infections and improving tolerance towards potentially hazardous compounds. Symbiotic relationships are known to be extremely beneficial for the enhancement of overall plant growth, especially in those soils that are deprived of certain minerals like P or N. However, in case of well-fertilized arable soils, symbiotic microbial growth is found to reduce significantly due to the improved bioavailability of nutrients in the soil. In addition to the vast benefits of symbiotic microbial growth in the rhizosphere, it also offers an overall increase in crop productivity, therefore making it an essential area of research.