creators_name: Chaudhary, Suman
creators_name: Sindhu, Satyavir S.
type: article
datestamp: 2026-02-02 07:23:57
lastmod: 2026-02-02 07:23:57
metadata_visibility: show
title: Iron sensing, signalling and acquisition by microbes and plants under environmental stress: Use of iron-solubilizing bacteria in crop biofortification for sustainable agriculture
keywords: Iron acquisition, Iron homeostasis, Abiotic and biotic stresses, Iron uptake and transport, Iron solubilizing microbes, Plant growth, Crop yields
abstract: Iron is very crucial micronutrient prerequisite for growth of all cellular organisms including plants, microbes, animals and humans. Though iron (Fe) is present in abundance in earth�s crust, but most of its forms present in soil are biologically unavailable, thus putting a constraint to utilize it. Plants and microorganisms maintain iron homeostasis to balance the supply of enough Fe for metabolism from their surrounding environments and to avoid excessive toxic levels. Microorganisms and plants employ different strategies for sensing, signaling, transportation and uptake of Fe under different types of stressed environments. Microbial communities present in soil and vicinity of roots contribute in biogeochemical cycling and uptake of different nutrients including Fe resulting into improved soil fertility and plant health. In this review, the regulation of iron uptake and transport under different kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses is described. In addition, the insights have been provided for enhancing bioavailability of Fe in sustainable agriculture practices. The inoculation of different crop plants with iron solubilizing microbes improved bioavailablilty of Fe in soil and increased plant growth and crop yield. Insights were provided about possible role of recent bioengineering techniques to improve Fe availability and uptake by plants. However, well-planned and large-scale field trials are required before recommending particular iron solubilizing microbes as biofertilizers for increasing Fe availability, improving plant development and crop yields in sustainable agriculture.
date: 2025
publication: Plant Science
volume: 356
pagerange: 112496
official_url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168945225001141
citation:   Chaudhary, Suman and Sindhu, Satyavir S.  (2025) Iron sensing, signalling and acquisition by microbes and plants under environmental stress: Use of iron-solubilizing bacteria in crop biofortification for sustainable agriculture.  Plant Science, 356.  p. 112496.