There has been a resurgence of interest in environmental friendly sustainable and organic
cultural practices that warrants high yield and quality in agricultural crops. To enhance
sustainable agricultural production and alleviate food scarcity spoor of majority of
microorganisms especially plant growth and health promoting bacteria of eminent
characteristics that allow them for exploitation in agro-ecosystem. Plant growth promoting
rhizobacteria are the soil bacteria inhabiting around on the root surface and are directly or
indirectly involved in promoting plant growth and development via production and secretion of
various regulatory chemicals in the vicinity of rhizosphere. Among various beneficial bacteria
mediated mechanisms include direct production of phytohormones and biosurfactants experiencing
quest of research and concept up gradation that can built emerging paradigm (agriculture
model). Research on bacteria-mediated phytohormones is crucially important provides key
understanding of the plant growth and development. Various genera including PGPR group of
bacteria are potential source of plant growth regulators. Application of such organism allow
plants to survive under abiotic and biotic stress conditions besides govern phytohormone
mediated immune response and manage to regulate hormones. Such group of bacteria also produce
another important metabolite i.e. biosurfacatants which are involved in many important
functions to bacteria itself as well as for the plants and their ecosystem. Biosurfactants may
alter nutrient availability endogenous metabolites such as antibiotics production root
colonization imparting protection from phytopathogens besides eradicating soil contaminants and
other pollutants. The role and activities of surfactants produced by bacteria are multifarious
in nature. Thus bacterial phytohormones and biosurfactants are identified as effector
molecules in plant- microbe interactions in pathogenesis and phyto-stimulation which can
either be beneficial for the bacteria itself or for the crops. This book highlights current
applications and research on bacterial hormones and surfactants to provide a timely overview.
The chapters have been contributed by subject experts from around the world and include topics
of varied importance which include phytohormones production by rhizospheric and endophytic
bacteria their role in rhizosphere competence plant growth regulation bioremediation
biosurfactants as antibiofilm agents and other aspects. This major new work represents a
valuable source of information to all those scientists interested in microbial technology with
respect to the microbial innovative products and applications towards sustainable
agroecosystem.
