Conclusions

Environmental stresses are becoming a major problem and productivity is declining at an unprecedented rate. Our dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides has encouraged the thriving of industries that are producing life-threatening chemicals and which are not only hazardous for human consumption, but can also disturb the ecological balance. Biofertilizers can help solve the problem of feeding an increasing global population at a time when agriculture is facing various environmental stresses. It is important to realise the useful aspects of biofertilizers and implement their application to modern agricultural practices. The new technology developed using the powerful tool of molecular biotechnology can enhance the biological pathways of production of phytohormones. If identified and transferred to the useful PGPRs, these technologies can help provide relief from environmental stresses. However, the lack of awareness regarding improved protocols of biofertilizer applications to the field is one of the few reasons why many useful PGPRs are still beyond the knowledge of ecologists and agriculturists. Nevertheless, the recent progresses in technologies related to microbial science, plant–pathogen interactions and genomics will help to optimize the required protocols. The success of the science related to biofertilizers depends on invention of innovative strategies related to the functions of PGPRs and their proper application to the field of agriculture. The major challenge in this area of research lies in the fact that, along with the identification of various strains of PGPRs and their properties, it is essential to dissect the actual mechanism of functioning of PGPRs for their efficacy towards exploitation in sustainable agriculture.