SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF MICROBIAL ANTAGONISTS AND ...

GenernlThe world's population is currently estimated to he 5.4 billion and is expectedto stabilize at 11.5 billion after 2100 The global area under crop production isapprox~matcly 1.5 billion ha. An increasing population demands a corresponding risein food production, but despite dramatic increases in production during the last 50years the world population is still affected by food insecurity. No matter how cropproductivity is affected by the environment or by the farmer's practice, theimplicat~ons of the growing imbalance between global population growth and foodsupply are contcnual source of debate (Weber. 1994)The rise in number of people creates enormous pressure and demand on foodsupply resources To meet these demands, man has developed a range of crop plants.of wh~ch 10 to 20 species are highly evolved and domesticated which provide 80 to90% food rcqulrement of the world. Enormously two cereal grains i.e. wheat and rice,predominate the large proponion of cultivated area of the world. Wheat accountsabout 508 x 10" ( 16 3%) and rice 485 s 10" ( 15.6%) in terms of world production(FA0 production yearhook). At the same time leguminous crops occupy nearly onequarterof the world's dietary protein requirement. World production of leguminouspulses accounts ahout 55 s 10" (1 .R%) and soyhean alone 92 x 10" (3.0%) (Langerand Hill. 1994)Sufficient micronutrient level in the dally diet is one of the prerequisites forhuman health. Est~matesuggest that some 81 5 million people worldwide suffer frommicronutrient deficiency. Though a number of leguminous species are known to meet