Application of microorganisms in forest plant

Abstract To a much lesser extent than the agricultural field, so far some research has been conducted on the interactions and applicability of soil microorganisms in woody and forestry plants. In this chapter, we review some of these studies and future potential, in order to solve immediate environmental problems. In a first section, we briefly review those types of soil microorganisms that have been most frequently studied or applied in woody or tree plant; we begin perhaps with those most important for trees, the mycorrhizal fungi, both endo and ectomycorrhizal fungi; subsequently N-fixing microorganisms, mainly both nodule-forming (Rhizobia and Frankia), and free-living bacteria, such as Azospirillum. We do not forget the different experiences made with combinations of those types of microorganisms and their combined benefits and applications on the tree plant. In a second section, we deal more directly with those human actions, in the forestry and environmental field, where soil microorganisms have been applied to improve these actions, mainly in reforestation, environmental restoration, bioremediation, and biocontrol.