Harnessing the Plant Microbiome for Improved Abiotic Stress Tolerance

The benefits of the green revolution in agriculture are over because current agricultural productivity has touched its limits of effectiveness in increasing plant yield. This problem is complicated by shrinking farmland, high labour costs and biotic and abiotic stresses. In fact, global agriculture and increased production would depend on the application and utilisation of microorganisms of agricultural importance, which will serve as an alternative strategy for higher crop productivity in the future. Efficient microbes play a key role in integrated management practices such as biotic and abiotic stresses and nutrient management to reduce chemical use and improve cultivar performance. On the other hand, high food demand and ever-increasing population increase pressure and urgency of how to exploit the microbiome for high crop yields and reduced losses caused by environmental stresses. This chapter highlights the importance of the designer plant microbiome, a strategy that may provide an effective and sustainable increase in crop yield and ultimately leads to food security by efficiently tackling biotic and abiotic stresses.