Plants and Their Microbes

Abstract

The soil harbors billions of Microbes supporting the growth of several plants, resulting in the constant symbiotic or non-symbiotic interactions between the plants and these microorganisms known as plant-microbe interactions. Plants need nutrients (available or available but inaccessible) in the soil to grow while microbes need shelter and nutrients supplied by plants and also promote plant-growth. Microbes are constantly trading with plants either buying or selling nutrients (the nutrients are considered the main currencies for trading and the product being bought in the soil rhizosphere). Plants including legumes inoculated with Rhizobia and microbes in experimental studies show that they are able to solubilizing phosphate and metals, fixing nitrogen fixers, producing IAA, cytokinins, Gibberellins and Ethylene. Microbiomes are therefore essential for plant growth and health as they govern most soil functions affecting plant-growth. For higher crop-yields and increased soil- fertility using ecofriendly manner, researches focused on the new concepts of exotic biomolecules, hormones, enzymes and metabolites which create a suitable environment for the interaction between plant and microbes using molecular and biotechnological approaches are necessary to increase our knowledge of rhizosphere biology and to achieve an integrated management of soil microbial populations that can ultimately enhance the health of plants.