Colonization of the Rhizosphere by Bacillus Species: Triggering Resistance Induction in Plants

Abstract

Climate change, urbanization, and overpopulation have significantly constrained global agriculture. Boosting agricultural production is crucial in mitigating the impacts of these factors. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the use of beneficial endophytic-antagonistic microorganisms and plant growth-promoting microbes within the rhizosphere to protect plants from various stresses. However, the mechanisms underlying the processes and colonization of the rhizobiome are still in the early stages of understanding. This book chapter highlights how microbial consortia in the rhizobiome, particularly those involving Bacillus species, play a pivotal role in inducing resistance to control major plant diseases. The rhizosphere, teeming with diverse microbial consortia, has emerged as a key player in enhancing plant growth under both biotic and abiotic constraints. Bacillus species, by colonizing the root-rhizosphere of host plants, have demonstrated the ability to trigger induced systemic resistance to plant diseases. Their influence operates through different signaling pathways and hormones, primarily through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). These microorganisms have been generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and are known to secrete crucial enzymes and biochemical compounds such as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) via pathogen-triggered immunity (PTI) mechanisms, offering promising strategies for sustainable and resilient agriculture. © Springer Nature Singapore 2024.