Multifunctional role of Actinobacteria in agricultural production sustainability: A review

The growing interest in low-input agriculture in recent years has focused the use of microbial biofertilizers to improve plant growth and yield through a better mobilization of indigenous source of key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium etc. In this context, soil microorganisms especially Actinobacteria might play an important role. With their multifunctional activities, they are involved in nutrient cycling, soil quality and crop productivity as well as plant health which make them not only the eco-friendly alternative for agriculture but also for humankind. Bearing this in mind, it is primordial to further explore the special link between these microorganisms and soil -plant ecosystems. Therefore, this review discusses the importance of Actinobacteria as microbial biofertilizers and highlights the future needs and challenges for using them for sustaining crop. The patents and scientific literature analysis from 2000 to 2020 show that 16 patents claiming Actinobacteria as biocontrol or biofertilizer in agriculture and 949 indexed research articles related to Actinobacteria effect on plant growth and phosphate solubilization have been published. Furthermore, Actinobacteria ability to increase growth and yield of staple crops such as wheat maize, tomato, rice, and chickpea plant have been highlighted. Much more effort and progress are expected in the industrial development of actinobacterial bioinoculants as areas such as synthetic biology and nano-biotechnology advance.