plant surface microbiology.pdf

5 Diversity and Functions of Soil Microflora in Development of Plants 91
tilizers or inoculants play an important role in enhancing plant growth
enhancing efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation, availability of P, trace elements
such as Fe and Zn, and production of plant growth substances. The
development of better screening procedures and understanding the genetic
basis of rhizosphere competence will help in developing novel microbial inoculants
that will be better suited to survive and perform their desirable function
in a natural environment.As we explore the soil microbial diversity more,
we must remember that the microbes evolve more quickly than we can study
them, providing an ever-increasing diversity of function, not only in agriculture,
but also for industrial applications.
Acknowledgements. The authors thank Mr. Manoj Kumar for the preparation of the
manuscript.
References and Selected Reading
Abd-Alla MH, Omar SA (1998) Wheat straw and cellulolytic fungi application increases
nodulation, nodule efficiency and growth of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum
L.) grown in saline soil. Biol Fertil Soil 26:58–65
Al-Niemi TS, Kahn ML, McDermott TR (1997) P metabolism in the Rhizobium tropicibean
symbiosis. Plant Physiol 113:1233–1242
Altomare C, Norvell WA, Bjoerkman T, Harman GE (1999) Solubilization of phosphates
and micronutrients by the plant growth-promoting and biocontrol fungus Trichoderma
harzianum Rifai 1295–22. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:2926–2933
Arenas M,Vavrina CS, Cornell JA, Hanlon EA, Hochmuth GJ (2002) Coir as an alternative
to peat in media for tomato transplant production. Hort Science 37:309–312
Badr El-Din SMS,Attia M,Abo-Sedera SA (2000) Field assessment of composts produced
by highly effective cellulolytic microorganisms. Biol Fertil Soils 32:35–40
Bagyaraj DJ (1984) Biological interactions with VA mycorrhizal fungi. In: Powell CL, Bagyaraj
DJ (eds) VA Mycorrhiza. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 131–153
Bagyaraj DJ, Varma A (1995) Interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and
plants. Their importance in sustainable agriculture in arid and semiarid tropics. Adv
Microb Ecol 14:119–142
Bai Y, D’Aoust F, Smith DL, Driscoll BT (2002) Isolation of plant growth promoting Bacillus
strains from soybean root nodules. Can J Microbiol 48:230–238
Barazani O, Friedman J (2001) Allelopathic bacteria and their impact on higher plants.
Crit Rev Microbiol 27:41–55
Bashan Y (1998) Inoculants of plant growth-promoting bacteria for use in agriculture.
Biotechnol Adv 16:729–770
Bationo A, Wani SP, Bielders CL, Vlek PLG, Mokwunye AU (2000) Crop residue and fertilizer
management to improve soil organic carbon content, soil quality and productivity
in the desert margins of West Africa. In: Lal R, Kimble JM, Steward BA (eds)
Advances in soil science. Global climate change and tropical ecosystems. CRC Press,
Washington, DC, pp 117–145
Bending GD, Turner MK, Jones JE (2002) Interactions between crop residue and soil
organic matter quality and the functional diversity of soil microbial communities.
Soil Biol Biochem 34:1073–1082