Soil Microbial Products: Specific Roles in Green Vegetations

Soil microorganisms inhabit a unique ecological niche, characterized by intimate associations with other diverse living organisms, driving ecosystem processes and plant fertility. The microorganisms synthesize a range of metabolites ranging from enzymes to phytohormones, antimicrobial substances, organic acids, siderophores, volatile organic acids, extracellular polysaccharide substances, among others. The microbial products contribute to green vegetation in terms of plant growth and productivity directly or indirectly by improving soil nutrients and its uptake by plants, controlling certain physiological and metabolic processes in the plants, inhibiting plant pathogens, and increasing the plant response to certain biotic and abiotic stresses. This has led to some innovations in the use of soil microbes in biofertilizers, inoculant technology, in environmentally friendly green vegetation, and sustainable agriculture.