Screening microbial inoculants and their interventions for cross-kingdom management of wilt disease of solanaceous crops- a step toward sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Microbial inoculants may be called magical bullets because they are small in size but have a huge impact on plant life and humans. The screening of these beneficial microbes will give us an evergreen technology to manage harmful diseases of cross-kingdom crops. The production of these crops is reducing as a result of multiple biotic factors and among them the bacterial wilt disease triggered by Ralstonia solanacearum is the most important in solanaceous crops. The examination of the diversity of bioinoculants has shown that more microbial species have biocontrol activity against soil-borne pathogens. Reduced crop output, lower yields, and greater cost of cultivation are among the major issues caused by diseases in agriculture around the world. It is universally true that soil-borne disease epidemics pose a greater threat to crops. These necessitate the use of eco-friendly microbial bioinoculants. This review article provides an overview of plant growth-promoting microorganisms bioinoculants, their various characteristics, biochemical and molecular screening insights, and modes of action and interaction. The discussion is concluded with a brief overview of potential future possibilities for the sustainable development of agriculture. This review will be useful for students and researchers to obtain existing knowledge of microbial inoculants, their activities, and their mechanisms, which will facilitate the development of environmentally friendly management strategies for cross-kingdom plant diseases.