Microbial communities play a pivotal role in the functioning of plants by influencing their physiology and development. While many members of the rhizosphere microbiome are beneficial to plant growth, also plant pathogenic microorganisms colonize the rhizosphere striving to break through the protective microbial shield and to overcome the innate plant defense mechanisms in order to cause disease. A third group of microorganisms that can be found in the rhizosphere are the true and opportunistic human pathogenic bacteria, which can be carried on or in plant tissue and may cause disease when introduced into debilitated humans. Although the importance of the rhizosphere microbiome for plant growth has been widely recognized, for the vast majority of rhizosphere microorganisms no knowledge exists. To enhance plant growth and health, it is essential to know which microorganism is present in the rhizosphere microbiome and what they are doing. Here, we review the main functions of rhizosphere microorganisms and how they impact on health and disease. We discuss the mechanisms involved in the multitrophic interactions and chemical dialogues that occur in the rhizosphere. Finally, we highlight several strategies to redirect or reshape the rhizosphere microbiome in favor of microorganisms that are beneficial to plant growth and health.

The rhizosphere microbiome: significance of plant beneficial, plant pathogenic, and human pathogenic microorganisms

https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/pdf/S0167-7799(09)00014-6.pdf

Against the grain: safeguarding rice from rice blast disease

Indoles - A promising scaffold for drug development.

Marine actinomycetes: an ongoing source of novel bioactive metabolites.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazole derivatives containing thiourea skeleton as anticancer agents.

Design, synthesis and anti-microbial activity of 1H-pyrazole carboxylates.

Control of blast and sheath blight diseases of rice using antifungal metabolites produced by Streptomyces sp. PM5

Synthesis and anti-microbial activity of pyrazolylbisindoles--promising anti-fungal compounds.

The effect of talc formulations of Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula and Trichoderma viride Pers. ex S.F. Gray applications either alone or in combination on crop growth, sheath blight disease and grain yield in rice was investigated in three different field experiments. Increased root and shoot lengths, dry weight and plant height were recorded following treatment of plants with P. fluorescens and T. viride either alone or in combination when compared with control. Application of P. fluorescens and T. viride resulted in a significant reduction of sheath blight incidence caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and was comparable to the treatment with a systemic fungicide, Carbendazim. The number of productive tillers, grains per panicle and grain test weight were also significantly increased in the treated plots with commensurate increase in grain and straw yields when compared with control. The promotion of plant growth and yield and suppression of sheath blight disease were marginally improved following combined application of P. fluorescens and T. viride. Although the combined application of both biocontrol agents did not lead to statistically significant additive effects in reducing the sheath blight and increasing grain yield when compared with their individual applications, no negative effect was recorded in this combined application treatment. Hence, the talc formulations of biocontrol agents either alone or in combination can be recommended as one of the crop protection strategies for the management of sheath blight of rice.

Application of Talc Formulations of Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula and Trichoderma viride Pers. ex S.F. Gray Decrease the Sheath Blight Disease and Enhance the Plant Growth and Yield in Rice

Vaiyapuri R. Prabavathy

Papers

Design, synthesis and anti-microbial activity of 1H-pyrazole carboxylates.

Control of blast and sheath blight diseases of rice using antifungal metabolites produced by Streptomyces sp. PM5

Synthesis and anti-microbial activity of pyrazolylbisindoles--promising anti-fungal compounds.

Application of Talc Formulations of Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula and Trichoderma viride Pers. ex S.F. Gray Decrease the Sheath Blight Disease and Enhance the Plant Growth and Yield in Rice

Self-fusion of protoplasts enhances chitinase production and biocontrol activity in Trichoderma harzianum.