The Multifaceted Role of Methylorubrum in Plant Growth Promotion and Abiotic Stress

Many microorganisms inhabit and interact with plants and play a significant role in improving overall productivity and sustainability. Among the microorganisms, bacteria contribute more to fostering plant growth and development. They are collectively known as Plant Growth Promoting bacteria (PGPRs). Methylorubrum is one such group of bacterial genera that has both plant growth-promoting ability and abiotic stress mitigation. Methylorubrum, a member of alpha-proteobacteria, is ubiquitous and can colonize the entire plant system, gaining significant importance in crop production due to its multifaceted abilities. Due to their pink pigmentation, members of the Methylorubrum genus are collectively known as Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM). They improve plant growth through mineral solubilisation, phytohormone production, ACC deaminase, and siderophore production. Methylorubrum with potential applications in agriculture can be used as a bio stimulant, biofertilizer, and biocontrol agent. This review provides thoughtful insights into the multidimensional role of Methylorubrum in sustainable agriculture.