ABSTRACT
The application of microbial biotechnology to horticulture is of great importance, because it has the potential to increase productivity, to enhance quality and shelflife of the produce, to control diseases and pests, and to develop novel techniques in food processing. Furthermore, uses of microbial technology in horticulture cover diverse scientific activities, including application of agents for biological nitrogen (N2) fixation in vegetable legumes, biofertilizers, microbial pesticides and microbial biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. In addition, microbial systems may be exploited for bioconversion of plant materials as biomass and biofuel production systems, for bioprocessing of fermented foods and beverages, for protein enrichment of horticultural waste products for animal feed use, for production of microbial enzymes required in horticulture-based industries, and as tools for construction of transgenic plants as cell factories.
