ABSTRACT
Human society today demands the production of high quality food in a most sustainable way causing least damage possible to the environment. Expected benefits include increase in the efficiency of crop production, reduction in agrochemical inputs, and an evaluation of the safety and bioethical aspects in relation to public acceptability. High productivity agriculture exacts a high cost in terms of energy and the environment. Typically, fertilizer and pesticides are used at high levels in the intensive production of plants. More than 150 years of over cultivation with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has left our soils depleted of the natural biota needed to facilitate the growth of crops. A less costly and nondestructive means of achieving high productivity rests on a establishment of the viable low input farming system. However, to implement such a plan, we must develop plant systems that can efficiently scavenge and utilize soil nutrients present at low levels. The judicious use of nature’s own biofertilizers by their biotechnological applications appears to be a suitable answer to this problem. Role of biotechnology in sustainable agriculture can offer a great help towards modern agriculture improvement. In the present review, we have discussed the role of biotechnology, potential biofertilizers with special reference to mycorrhizal biofertilizers, their so far reported synergies, mycorrhizal potential and methodologies for its mass multiplication, different constraints in its commercialization and its future role in achieving sustainable agriculture.
