Contribution of Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs/PGPR) to Plant Growth and Development
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 66
Special Issue Editor
Interests: biological control of soil-borne diseases; IPM; biofertilizers & biofungicides (PGPR); induced systemic resistance; organic agriculture; development of safer environmentally-friendly agricultural products for sustainable agriculture with reduction of pesticide use and poverty alleviation around the world
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs), including Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), play a vital role in enhancing plant growth and development through a variety of ecological and biochemical mechanisms. These beneficial microorganisms colonize the rhizosphere, the zone of soil surrounding plant roots, where they interact with plants in a symbiotic or associative manner. Their contribution to plant health is both direct—through nutrient acquisition and phytohormone production—and indirect—via pathogen suppression and stress mitigation. Direct mechanisms involve biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and the production of plant growth regulators such as auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins. These processes improve nutrient uptake efficiency and stimulate root and shoot development. PGPMs also enhance the bioavailability of micronutrients like zinc and iron, which are essential for various physiological processes in plants. PGPMs indirectly contribute to plant defense by producing antibiotics, siderophores, and enzymes that inhibit pathogenic microbes. They also induce systemic resistance in plants, priming them for faster and stronger responses to future pathogen attacks. Furthermore, these microbes can alleviate abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy-metal toxicity by producing stress-related enzymes and osmoprotectants. The application of PGPMs as biofertilizers and biostimulants in sustainable agriculture has gained global attention due to their environmental friendliness and potential to reduce chemical input. Advances in molecular biology, metagenomics, and microbiome engineering are further unlocking the potential of PGPMs in diverse cropping systems. This Special Issue welcomes contributions that explore the mechanisms, diversity, and practical applications of PGPMs in agriculture. Research articles, case studies, and reviews focusing on microbial formulations, plant–microbe interactions, and field-level impacts are encouraged to further our understanding and utilization of these vital organisms to enhance crop productivity and resilience.
Prof. Dr. Munagala S. Reddy
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- plant growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs)
- biofertilizers
- rhizosphere microbiome
- sustainable agriculture
- plant–microbe interactions
- phytohormones
- soil health
- biocontrol agents
- nutrient uptake
- stress tolerance
- microbial consortia
- biostimulants
- nitrogen fixation
- phosphate solubilization
- induced systemic resistance
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