Prospect of beneficial microorganisms applied in potato cultivation for sustainable agriculture

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a widely planted crop. The primary obstacles for potato production are the high demands of fertilizers and the occurrence of widespread diseases. Traditional intensively managed agroecosystems depend on fertilizers and biocides, which could induce soil degradation and environmental problems. This review emphasizes the effects of inoculating crops with plant growth-promoting bacteria, endophytes, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as well as the potential application of these microbes in the establishment of a sustainable potatoes cultivation system. We concluded that it is worth to isolate the most efficient microbial strains during the process of microbial diversity investigations. And it is also worth to apply flavonoids and other stimulators to promoter beneficial microbes growth since emerging evidence implies that these compounds can stimulate native mycorrhizal activity and subsequent potato yield. In summary, more practical application of bio-fertilizers and bio-control methods should be encouraged to facilitate potato production.   Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial microbes, disease resistance, potato production, sustainable agriculture.