Mitigating abiotic stress: microbiome engineering for improving agricultural production and environmental sustainability.

The responses of plants to different abiotic stresses and mechanisms involved in their mitigation are discussed. Production of osmoprotectants, antioxidants, enzymes and other metabolites by beneficial microorganisms and their bioengineering ameliorates environmental stresses to improve food production. Progressive intensification of global agriculture, injudicious use of agrochemicals and change in climate conditions have deteriorated soil health, diminished the microbial biodiversity and resulted in environment pollution along with increase in biotic and abiotic stresses.

Interkingdom signaling in plant-rhizomicrobiome interactions for sustainable agriculture.

The rhizosphere is a complex ecosystem around plant roots that comprises an integrated network of plant roots, the microbiome and soil. Wide spread communication between prokaryotes and eukaryotes occurs within this integrated network via a complex set of signal molecules secreted during both beneficial and harmful interactions. Intra- and inter-species communication among microbes occurs through various signal molecules that coordinate and control the behaviours of microorganisms in mixed communities.