Intro
Preface
Contents
Editors and Contributors
Part I: Basic and Fundamentals: Microbial Consortia
Chapter 1: An Overall Insight Into the Attributes, Interactions, and Future Applications of ``Microbial Consortium ́́for Plant...
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Microbe-Microbe Interactions
1.3 Microbial Consortia
1.3.1 Definition and Design
1.3.2 Types, Process, and Development
1.4 Formulations: Difficulties and Success
1.5 Root Colonization and Biofilm Formation
1.6 Abiotic Stress: Action and Mechanism

1.7 Metagenomics and Biotechnological Approach to Increase Efficiency of Microbial Consortium for Plant Growth Promotion
1.7.1 Microbiome Engineering
1.7.2 Molecular Tools to Increase Efficiency of Microbiome Engineering
1.7.3 Next-Generation Microbial Synthetic Communities (SynComs) for Plant Yield Promotion
1.8 Application: Microbial Inoculation and Soil Community
1.9 Conclusions
References
Chapter 2: Beneficial Microbial Mixtures for Efficient Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Impediments and Success
2.1 Introduction

2.2 Protocol Strategy: Artificial Microbial Consortia, Construction, and Mode of Applications
2.2.1 Cocktail and Combined Effect
2.2.2 Co-inoculation
2.3 Biofilm and Quorum Sensing
2.4 Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Consortia
2.5 Reason for Failure
2.6 Success Stones and Bottlenecks
References
Chapter 3: Rhizobacterial-Mediated Interactions for Enhanced Symbiotic Performance of the Root Nodule Rhizobia in Legumes
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Rhizobacterial Interaction in the Initiation of Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Systems

3.2.1 Initiation of Nodule Formation and Development
3.2.2 Induction of Flavonoid Secretion and Symbiotic Effectiveness
3.3 Nutrient Acquisition and Abiotic Stress Tolerance
3.3.1 Induced Systemic Tolerance (IST) in the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis
3.3.2 Rhizosphere Interaction for Iron (Fe+3) Acquisition
3.3.3 Phosphorus Acquisition for SNF
3.4 Concluding Summary
References
Chapter 4: Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia Render Biological Control of Plant Pathogens: A Review
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia

4.3 Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia-Mediated Biocontrol Mechanisms
4.4 Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia Against Bacterial Pathogens
4.5 Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia Against Fungal Pathogens
4.6 Conclusions and Future Perspectives
References
Chapter 5: Phytohormonal Role of Microorganisms Involved in Bioinoculants
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Bioinoculant: Uses and Practices
5.3 Phytohormones Produced by Soil Microorganisms
5.4 Role of Phytohormones in the PGPB-Plant Relationship