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Emergence of Methylobacterium spp. as Potential Organism in Agroecosystems

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Bacterial Metabolites in Sustainable Agroecosystem

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ((SDEB,volume 12))

Abstract

Methylobacterium spp. includes a group of stringently aerobic, Gram-negative, pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophs (PPFM) belonging to α-proteobacteria and are capable of growing on one-carbon compounds, such as formate, formaldehyde, methanol and methylamine or sometimes on multi-carbon compounds like diethyl ether and trimethyl amines. Significance of these bacteria for plant-growth promotion by the possible mechanisms include production of phytohormones, IAA, cytokinins, ACC-deaminase and perform nitrogen metabolism by means of bacterial urease, establish efficient nitrogen (N2)-fixing symbioses by nodulating legume roots; production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation and abiotic stress endurance. These organisms induce systemic resistance by production of siderophores and proteins like phenylalanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase and phenolic compounds. On the other hand, they also promote the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). In spite of their plant-growth promotional traits, commercialization of the Methylobacterium strains as bioinoculant have been hindered constantly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Government Science College, Vankal, Mangrol, Surat, 394430, Gujarat, India

    Chaitanya Kumar Jha

  2. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India

    Dinesh Kumar Maheshwari

  3. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, Gujarat, India

    Meenu Saraf

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  1. Chaitanya Kumar Jha
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Correspondence to Meenu Saraf .

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  1. Dept Botany & Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar (Uttarakhand), India

    Dinesh K. Maheshwari

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Jha, C.K., Maheshwari, D.K., Saraf, M. (2015). Emergence of Methylobacterium spp. as Potential Organism in Agroecosystems. In: Maheshwari, D. (eds) Bacterial Metabolites in Sustainable Agroecosystem. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24654-3_3

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