Abstract Pseudomonas is a large bacterial genus consisting of more than 300 species commonly found in the environment and isolated from soil, water, and plants. This species has a great affinity for grasses and can colonize the interior of their roots, which characterizes them as endophytic rhizobacteria. Endophytic microorganisms are beneficially associated with the host and exchange nutrients necessary for mutual growth and development. Endophytic Pseudomonas promote plant growth directly via the process of biological nitrogen fixation, solubilization of phosphate and other macro and micronutrients, and synthesis of siderophore and phytohormones, and indirectly by protecting against pathogens through the induction of systemic resistance or release of volatile and non-volatile metabolic compounds. Representatives of the genus Pseudomonas have been extensively studied for their associative characteristics. Products formulated with Pseudomonas are commercially available, of which 12 are registered in Brazil. However, some Pseudomonas species, although promising for agriculture, can be pathogenic,for example, P. putida and P. fluorescens can cause diseases in debilitated humans and P. syringae is pathogenic to plants. In this scenario, alternative molecular and biotechnological studies on the exclusive use of metabolites migth represent an alternative that deserves efforts for improvement. This article reviews the potential of Pseudomonas genus members to sustainably enhance agricultural yields and also highlights alternatives for the use of pathogenic species.
Bonotto et al. (Wed,) studied this question.