Diversity and Function of Microbes Associated with Rhizosphere of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana)

The plant and microbes symbiotic association is known to be an important and beneficial activity for sustainable agriculture since many decades. Rhizospheric zone is full of varied microbial population. Different microbes not only interact with each other, but also influence the host. Finger millet is an important, nutritionally rich crop of semiarid and tropical regions, and its rhizospheric zone harbors a wide diversity of beneficial microbes. The microbial community of finger millet crop consists of rhizobacteria, phosphate solubilizing and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and plant growth-promoting fungi along with other micro- and macroorganisms. The association of these rhizospheric microbes with finger millet plant confers protection from several biotic and abiotic stresses. Association of beneficial or efficient microbes with millet plant helps it to adapt to hostile environments and also promote its productivity through various mechanisms either directly or indirectly. These beneficial means are diverse direct and indirect benefits on the host plant. The literature on rhizospheric microbes associated with finger millet is scanty. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to discuss the beneficial aspects of different types of rhizospheric microflora on finger millet.