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Genetically Modified Microbes as Biofertilizers

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Bioremediation and Biotechnology, Vol 4

Abstract

Plant nutrients are important for efficient crop productivity and generation of healthy food. For achieving such goals, maintenance of soil quality is one of the key factors. Maintenance of soil is mainly reliant on the inorganic chemical-based fertilizers. However, these fertilizers are highly toxic to the environment. In this backdrop, biofertilizers have been identified as substitute for enhancing crop productivity and soil fertility. The utilization of advantageous microorganisms as biofertilizers have become of utmost importance in agriculture. They form an important part of nutrient management system in plants. These potential biological fertilizers play a vital role in enhancing sustainability and productivity of soil. Besides, they protect environment and are cost-effective. Moreover, biofertilizer production by using the tools of molecular biotechnology like recombinant DNA technology can perk up the metabolic pathways of production of significant plant growth-promoting factors, if recognized and transmitted to the valuable plant growth-promoting microbes. Genetically modified organisms symbolize a genetic store. These microorganisms find use as donor or recipient of genes of interest. Microbes play an important role in different sectors of food processing, agriculture, pharmaceutical industries, and environmental management. Genes of microbes can be optimized or improved by means of various genetic modifications. Genetically modified microbes offer an improved nutrient accessibility to plants and thus enhance plant development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India

    Rohaya Ali & Nasreena Sajjad

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India

    Khurshid Dijoo Zulaykha

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  1. Rohaya Ali
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  1. Sri Pratap College, Cluster University Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

    Rouf Ahmad Bhat

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid Rehman Hakeem

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Ali, R., Zulaykha, K.D., Sajjad, N. (2020). Genetically Modified Microbes as Biofertilizers. In: Bhat, R.A., Hakeem, K.R. (eds) Bioremediation and Biotechnology, Vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48690-7_13

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