MICROBIAL CONSORTIA: A FEASIBLE ECOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.6492524014

• Palavras-chave: -

• Keywords: Microbial communities, microbial ecology, green agriculture, biological inputs.

• Abstract: The multispecies community drives the complex microbial process in the soil- plant system. Lessons from the environment suggest that microbial consortia have several advantages over single microbial strain-based products for sustainable agriculture. Due to physical and metabolic cooperation, proper synthetic microbial communities are potentially more efficient and stable in maintaining specific microbial processes. The mutualistic interaction that occurs in a stable microbial consortium has shown adaptative advantages compared to a single microbial application that results in better resilience under biotic and abiotic fluctuation and environmental disturbances, promoting benefits to the soil-plant system and plant growth by diverse mechanisms, such as bioavailability of nutrients or decomposition of organic waste. Representing a promising biotechnological advance, the use of microbial consortia is complex. It requires an integration of different areas, methodological approaches, and techniques for understanding the interaction elements and their development and efficient application in the field. Microbial consortia in agriculture correspond to a sustainable alternative to conventional practices, ensuring the productivity of crops and gains in terms of economy and ecology, fundamental for future agriculture. The present work aimed to present relevant concepts and information about biochemical mechanisms involved in microbial compatibility . and synergy, methods of formulating microbial consortia, and proposals for use for environmentally sustainable and productive agriculture.