Does nature make provision for backups in the modification of bacterial community structures?

Abstract

Self-balancing is an inherent character in nature in response to community structure modification pressure and modern biotechnology has revolutionized the way such detections are made. Presented here is an overview of the forces and process interactions between released bacteria and indigenous microflora which encompass soil bacterial diversity, community structure, indigenous endorhizosphere micro-organisms, molecular detection methodologies, and transgenic plants and microbes. Issues of soil bacterial diversity and community structure as well as the interpretation of results from various findings are highlighted and discussed as inferred from research articles. An understanding of the factors influencing bio-inoculant modification of bacterial community structure in the colonization of the rhizosphere is essential for improved establishment of biocontrol agents, and is critically reviewed.

Keywords:

• bacterial community structure
• indigenous
• microbial inoculant
• resident
• rhizosphere

Acknowledgments

The author thanks the reviewers for critically reviewing the article. She was a recipient of NWU grant through the Faculty of Agriculture Science and Technology. The National Research Foundation, South Africa is acknowledged for funds that have supported research in her laboratory.