Chapter 12
Endophytic Rhizobacteria for Mineral
Nutrients Acquisition in Plants: Possible
Functions and Ecological Advantages
Becky Nancy Aloo, Vishal Tripathi, Ernest R. Mbega, and Billy A. Makumba
Abstract Nutrient-deficiency in agricultural soils is a major problem in many parts
of the world, it is, therefore, artificial fertilizers are widely used to boost crop production. Unfortunately, these fertilizers are associated with a myriad of environmental
problems hence, there is a need for viable alternatives. The realization that the plant
microbiome can improve plant health, soil fertility, and crop productivity is one of the
most fascinating scientific discoveries in the world. For several decades, rhizobacteria
have been studied due to their various plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Endophytic rhizobacteria are unique plant microbiome that establish themselves within
plant root tissues and exert beneficial functions to their hosts without harming them.
A lot of emphases have been put on these bacteria as viable tools for sustainable
agriculture and it is advanced that they could be better plant growth promoters than
their external counterparts. However, this theory is not yet clearly understood. This
chapter provides the current state of understanding of the putative functions of endophytic rhizobacteria and their future prospects for plant mineral nutrients acquisition.
Their advantageous traits that largely advanced to facilitate these PGP functions are
also discussed. Such informations can provide better opportunities for improved
plant mineral nutrients acquisition and enhance the application of these microbes as
viable strategies for sustainable agriculture.
Keywords Endophytes · Rhizobacteria · Sustainable agriculture · Plant growth
promotion
B. N. Aloo (B) · E. R. Mbega
Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
e-mail: aloob@nm-aist.ac.tz
B. N. Aloo
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eldoret, P. O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
V. Tripathi
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, P. O.
Box 221005, Varanasi, UP, India
B. A. Makumba
Department of Biological Sciences, Moi University, P. O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. K. Maheshwari and S. Dheeman (eds.), Endophytes: Mineral Nutrient
Management, Volume 3, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 26,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65447-4_12
267
Endophytic Rhizobacteria for Mineral
Nutrients Acquisition in Plants: Possible
Functions and Ecological Advantages
Becky Nancy Aloo, Vishal Tripathi, Ernest R. Mbega, and Billy A. Makumba
Abstract Nutrient-deficiency in agricultural soils is a major problem in many parts
of the world, it is, therefore, artificial fertilizers are widely used to boost crop production. Unfortunately, these fertilizers are associated with a myriad of environmental
problems hence, there is a need for viable alternatives. The realization that the plant
microbiome can improve plant health, soil fertility, and crop productivity is one of the
most fascinating scientific discoveries in the world. For several decades, rhizobacteria
have been studied due to their various plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Endophytic rhizobacteria are unique plant microbiome that establish themselves within
plant root tissues and exert beneficial functions to their hosts without harming them.
A lot of emphases have been put on these bacteria as viable tools for sustainable
agriculture and it is advanced that they could be better plant growth promoters than
their external counterparts. However, this theory is not yet clearly understood. This
chapter provides the current state of understanding of the putative functions of endophytic rhizobacteria and their future prospects for plant mineral nutrients acquisition.
Their advantageous traits that largely advanced to facilitate these PGP functions are
also discussed. Such informations can provide better opportunities for improved
plant mineral nutrients acquisition and enhance the application of these microbes as
viable strategies for sustainable agriculture.
Keywords Endophytes · Rhizobacteria · Sustainable agriculture · Plant growth
promotion
B. N. Aloo (B) · E. R. Mbega
Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
e-mail: aloob@nm-aist.ac.tz
B. N. Aloo
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eldoret, P. O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
V. Tripathi
Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, P. O.
Box 221005, Varanasi, UP, India
B. A. Makumba
Department of Biological Sciences, Moi University, P. O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. K. Maheshwari and S. Dheeman (eds.), Endophytes: Mineral Nutrient
Management, Volume 3, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 26,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65447-4_12
267