Growth promotion and response of staple crops to inoculation with Azospirillum: A review

Abstract

Azospirillum, a genus of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, has garnered increasing attention for its pivotal role in sustainable agriculture. It has the capability to increase yield in many crops of agronomic importance especially staple crops by various mechanisms. This review explores the diverse potential of Azospirillum spp. in farming, examining how different crops respond to these bacteria. A key focus of this review is Azospirillum 's ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable nitrogen for plant which boosts soil nutrients and helps plants grow better. Besides nitrogen fixation, the paper discusses many other benefits linked to Azospirillum spp., such as phytohormones production for plant growth promotion, enhancing plant stress tolerance, and ultimately helping farming stay sustainable and strong. This review thoroughly investigates the effect of Azospirillum inoculation on staple crops including wheat, maize, rice and sugarcane. It explores the complex relationships these crops have developed with Azospirillum spp., uncovering numerous advantages of these interactions.