Agricultural Microbiology Research Progress in India in the New Millennium

  • D L N Rao
  • T K Adhya
  • A K Saxena
Keywords: Biological Nitrogen Fixation; Biofertilizers; Climate Change; Endophytes; Microbial Diversity; Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria; Soil Bioremediation; Soil Health

Abstract

The research efforts in microbiology over last two decades have focussed on assessing the microbial diversity in various soil
types and cropping systems in all agro-eco-regions, including extreme environments resulting in creation of a vast repository
of microorganisms, free living and endophytes. A marked departure from the past is their identification by both conventional
and molecular methods, resulting in discovery of many novel species. The effects of various soil and agronomic management
practices were assessed on soil microbial diversity and soil health by both classical and metagenomic approach. The
beneficial effects of organic and integrated farming, and adverse effects of chemical intensification have been assessed,
leading to the identification of actinobacteria as important players in maintaining soil health. A major impact has been the
firm attention received from policy makers on the urgent need to conserve soil biodiversity and improve soil health.
Identification of rapid methods of soil biological health assessment, improved rhizobial inoculants, microbial technology
for rapid in situ and ex situ residue and waste breakdown, and mitigating climate change effects are the current priorities.
Future priorities include assessment of the structure and function of the vast reservoir of unculturable microbes;
deleterious microorganisms, assessment of soil-plant-microbe continuum and plant immunity modulation by microbes;
rhizosphere engineering, role of archaea in maintaining soil health, microbial methods to improve soil organic matter
formation; assessment and quantification of ecosystem services rendered by agriculturally important microorganisms; and
improved microbial technology for biofertilizers and delivery systems. The tremendous advances in agricultural microbiology
in last two decades in India are a cause for optimism that solutions will be forged for the above challenges using both
classical and modern approaches, thereby ushering in the process more sustainable agricultural systems.

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Published
2020-01-24
Section
Special Section