ABSTRACT
As sessile organisms, plants are constantly subjected to numerous environmental stresses that may seriously impair growth, development and productivity. Probiotic bacteria that colonize plant roots and/or internal tissues can augment plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as as salinity, drought, flooding, extreme temperatures, and heavy metals through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, the use of probiotic bacteria as bioinoculants to increase crop productivity in marginal agricultural lands has a promising future. This chapter reviews recent findings on bacteria-mediated plant tolerance to the effects of diverse abiotic stresses. The mechanisms through which probiotic bacteria enhance abiotic stress tolerance in plants are also discussed.
