Molecular Action of Bacterial Surfactants in Plant Stress Management

Environmental plant stresses are considered as major causes of crop loss and global reduction in agriculture productivity. Plant stresses are commonly classified into abiotic and biotic agents. In contrast to biotic stress caused by biological agents such as plant pests and pathogens, abiotic stress involves any disturbance in the chemical or physical conditions of the plant’s ambient environment. Different control strategies are applied to manage plant stresses and mitigate their consequences. The increase in global food and crops demand by people is a major challenge against achieving sustainable agriculture. The utilization of green, ecofriendly, and efficient technology is needed to maintain plant productivity and food security in nations. Bacterial surface-tension reducing agents are indicated as promising biological and commercial compounds that satisfy different applications in agriculture and food industry. For instance, biosurfactants (BS) can be used for soil remediation and as effective biofertilizers and pesticides against plant pathogens. In comparison with chemical pesticides, BS are biodegradable and ecofriendly. This chapter provides an insight into preliminary knowledge, perspectives, and future trends related to molecular actions of bacterial surfactants in managing common plant-biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, integrations of omics throughputs in monitoring molecular aspects of plant stressors are revealed.