Abstract
Modern agricultural practices rely on the excessive use of chemical
fertilizers to increase crop yields to meet the growing population's demand. It has
exploited the inherent biological potential of soil and plant systems. Sustainable
agricultural practices focus on equal attention to soil and plant health. Plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) serve the plants by combating abiotic and biotic
stressors in the environment. These microorganisms aid plants in multiple ways by
colonizing the plant roots. They work effectively as biofertilizers and as biocontrol
agents and help in fostering plant growth through either direct (potassium and
phosphorous solubilization, siderophore production, nitrogen fixation) or indirect
(production of VOCs, antibiotics, lytic enzymes) mechanisms. To upgrade their
application to agro-ecosystems, modern technologies are being worked out. These aim
at improving the efficacy of PGPR and uplifting agricultural sustainability. Therefore,
in this book chapter, the role and mechanism of PGPR as soil health boosters and plant
growth enhancers were discussed. Further, it sheds light on recent developments made
to strongly present PGPR as a potent candidate for green agriculture.