As the world’s population is increasing rapidly, there is an urgent need to
increase crop production. To achieve this goal, an eco-friendly alternative to chemical
fertilizers and pesticides is required. Several types of microbes have been identified
inhabiting the plant rhizosphere, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria, fungi, proteobacteria, mycoparasitic and mycorrhizal fungi.
These microorganisms not only influence the growth and development of plants but
also suppress pathogenic microbes near plant roots through several different
mechanisms. Non-symbiotic microbes play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycling
of organic and inorganic phosphorus (P) near the root zone via solubilization and
mineralization of P from total soil phosphorus. Additionally, some non-pathogenic
microbes have also been reported to induce systemic resistance in plants, which is
phenotypically similar to pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR). The
present review summarizes the latest knowledge on the role of non-pathogenic strains
of microbiomes residing in the rhizosphere and their commercial applications.
Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Non pathogenic, Rhizhobacteria
