Enhancing Agricultural Systems with Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes: Innovations in Eco-Friendly Crop Protection

The field of agriculture is witnessing a major evolution as researchers turn towards sustainable and eco-friendly methods to enhance crop productivity. Plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) have emerged as vital components in this transformative landscape. These microbes, including bacteria and fungi, play crucial roles in enhancing nutrient availability, stimulating plant growth, and providing resistance against abiotic stresses. While the potential of PGPMs is substantial, there is a pressing need to investigate their multifaceted contributions to crop health and sustainable agricultural systems. Current studies have shown impressive advancements in microbial ecology, bioinformatics, and plant-microbe interactions, yet many questions on optimizing microbial effectiveness and integration remain open. Recent studies illustrate the promising impact of these microbes, driving the need for a holistic approach to incorporate them effectively within current agricultural frameworks.

This Research Topic aims to explore the intersection of PGPMs within sustainable agricultural practices. The focus will be on integrating these microbes through advanced technologies to foster plant health and minimize dependence on chemical inputs. Researchers will assess the challenges and potential solutions in using PGPMs to boost productivity, ensure food security, and address ecological concerns. The topic seeks to unravel the intricacies of plant-microbe interactions, delve into microbial community optimization, and explore interdisciplinary methods to harness these interactions for large-scale applications.

To gather further insights into the integration of plant growth-promoting microbes within agricultural systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Advancements in PGPM formulations and delivery systems for improved plant growth and health
- Genomic and metabolomic insights into the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions
- Role of microbial communication in sustainable soil and crop management
- Integration of PGPMs within precision agriculture and their impact on yield resilience
- Strategies to strengthen the utilization of microbial consortia in diversified cropping systems
- Impact of climate change on PGPM efficiency and adaptation
- Economic and regulatory perspectives on the adoption of PGPM-based solutions

We invite original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that push forward the frontiers of plant growth-promoting microbes in sustainable agriculture.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: plant growth-promoting microbes, sustainable agriculture, plant-microbe interactions, biological soil amendments, abiotic stress tolerance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.