Paenibacillus polymyxa, a Jack of all trades.

The bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa is found naturally in diverse niches. Microbiome analyses have revealed enrichment in the genus Paenibacillus in soils under different adverse conditions, which is often accompanied by improved growth conditions for residing plants. Furthermore, Paenibacillus is a member of the core microbiome of several agriculturally important crops, making its close association with plants an interesting research topic.

Plant Growth Promotion Driven by a Novel Strain.

Soil microbial communities hold great potential for sustainable and ecologically compatible agriculture. Although numerous plant-beneficial bacterial strains from a wide range of taxonomic groups have been reported, very little evidence is available on the plant-beneficial role of bacteria from the genus . Here, the mode of action of a strain, designated RHG1, which had originally been identified through a microbial screen for plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria in maize (), is investigated in .

Streptomyces as a plant's best friend?

Here we discuss the advantages of the majority of this versatile and diverse group of microorganisms for plant health and growth as demonstrated by their contribution to disease-suppressive soils, their antifungal and antibacterial activities, their ability to produce volatile compounds and their capacity to enhance plant biomass. Although much is still to be discovered about the colonization strategies and molecular interactions between plant roots and these microorganisms, they are destined to become important players in the field of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for agriculture.