Scoping the potential uses of beneficial microorganisms for increasing productivity in cotton cropping systems

There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the potential of various microbes to enhance plant productivity and yield in cropping systems. Realizing the potential of beneficial microbes requires an understanding of the role of microbes in growth promotion, particularly in terms of fertilization and disease control, the underlying mechanisms and the challenges in application and commercialization of plant growth-promoting (PGP) microbes. This review focuses specifically on the use of PGP microbes in the cotton industry and summarizes the commercial bioinoculant products currently available for cotton; highlighting factors that must be considered for future development of PGP microbial products for the cotton industry. Given the paucity of information on beneficial microbes for cotton production systems in comparison to those for other cropping systems (e.g. legumes and grains), a snapshot of the current research is critical in light of the increased interest in cotton inoculants, mainly in developing countries such as India, and the overall increased interest in PGP applications as part of promoting sustainable agriculture.