Plant growth promoting traits of psychrotolerant bacteria: A boon for agriculture in hilly terrains

Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are well known to promote plant growth in a number of ways. It is important to study plant growth promoting potential of bacteria capable of growing in extreme environments to establish their role in promoting agricultural yield under harsh conditions. Psychrophilic or psychrotolerant bacteria with plant growth promoting traits may improve the quality of agricultural practices in hilly terrain. The agricultural importance of such microbes stems from the fact that the world over temperate agro-ecosystems are characterized by low temperatures and short growing seasons that subject both plant and microbial life to cold temperature induced stress. Hence, there is a need to identify potential microbes that retain their functional traits under low temperature conditions. Such microbes can be used to enhance the agricultural yields in low temperature areas of the world. This review describes plant growth promoting activities identified in cold adapted bacteria.