Microbial Services for Sustainable Agriculture

Global food insecurity is a chronic issue that is likely to affect an increasing number of people worldwide in accordance with climate change, rapid population growth, and the increasing scarcity of arable land due to soil deterioration. To face the current growing challenge of environmental degradation caused by conventional farming practices (including the overuse of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that have immense and adverse effects on humans, animals, and environments) a potential suitable solution is the use of plant-beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms or whole microbiome management techniques to improve plant growth, coupled with the use of entomopathogenic fungi as biological control techniques.

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that microbial services can be used to enhance plant productivity and yield in cropping systems.

This Research Topic publishes original, peer-reviewed research that focuses on the interactions between plants and microorganisms, as well as plant growth-promoting, rhizospheric, endophytic, symbiotic microorganisms, and biological control. We welcome manuscripts that advance the knowledge and understanding of aspects including (but not limited to):
• Molecular communication between plants and plant growth-promoting microorganisms;
• The reciprocal relationship between the plant immune system and the microbiome, and its relevance for plant health;
• Phytostimulator microorganisms;
• Production of siderophores and volatile organic compounds by rhizobacteria;
• Mushroom technology for biocontrol;
• Filamentous fungi as plant growth promoters;
• Mycorrhiza;
• Microbiome management and engineering;
• Sustainable agriculture effects on the microbiome;
• Mushroom technology for biocontrol.