1;Preface;5
2;Contents;7
3;Contributors;24
4;1 The State of the Art;31
5;2 Root Colonisation Following Seed Inoculation;42
5.1;1 Introduction;42
5.2;2 Bacterial Root Colonisation;42
5.3;3 Analysis of Tomato Root Tip Colonisation After Seed Inoculation Using a Gnotobiotic Assay;43
5.4;4 Genetic Tools for Studying Root Colonisation;47
5.5;5 Behaviour of Root-Colonising Pseudomonas Bacteria in a Gnotobiotic System;51
5.6;6 Influence of Abiotic and Biotic Factors;54
5.7;7 Conclusions;57
5.8;References and Selected Reading;57
6;3 Methanogenic Microbial Communities Associated with Aquatic Plants;63
6.1;1 Introduction;63
6.2;2 Role of Plants in Emission of CH4 to the Atmosphere;63
6.3;3 Role of Photosynthates and Plant Debris for CH4 Production;66
6.4;4 Methanogenic Microbial Communities on Plant Debris;68
6.5;5 Methanogenic Microbial Communities on Roots;70
6.6;6 Interaction of Methanogens and Methanotrophs;72
6.7;References and Selected Reading;73
7;4 Role of Functional Groups of Microorganisms on the Rhizosphere Microcosm Dynamics;79
7.1;1 Introduction;79
7.2;2 General Aspects of Functional Groups of Soil Microorganisms;80
7.3;3 Carbon Cycle Functional Groups;81
7.4;4 Functional Groups of Microrganisms of the Nitrogen Cycle;83
7.5;5 Functional Groups of Microrganisms of the Sulphur Cycle;85
7.6;6 Functional Groups of Microrganisms of the Phosphorus Cycle;87
7.7;7 Dynamics of the Rhizosphere Functional Groups of Microrganisms;88
7.8;8 Relationship Among r and k Strategist Functional Groups;89
7.9;9 Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Dynamics in the Rhizosphere;89
7.10;10 Dynamics Among the Functional Microrganism Groups of the Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur Cycles;93
7.11;References and Selected Reading;96
8;5 Diversity and Functions of Soil Microflora in Development of Plants;98
8.1;1 Introduction;98
8.2;2 Functional Diversity of Soil Microflora;99
8.3;3 Role of Soil Microflora in Plant Development;103
8.4;4 Plant Growth Promoting Substances Produced by Soil Microbes;115
8.5;5 Conclusions;117
8.6;References and Selected Reading;118
9;6 Signalling in the Rhizobia-Legumes Symbiosis;126
9.1;1 Introduction;126
9.2;2 The Signals from the Host Plants;128
9.3;3 Signals from the Microsymbionts;134
9.4;4 Signal Perception and Molecular Biology of Nodule Initiation;138
9.5;References and Selected Reading;141
10;7 The Functional Groups of Micro-organisms Used as Bio- indicator on Soil Disturbance Caused by Biotech Products such as Bacillus thuringiensis and Bt Transgenic Plants;147
10.1;1 Introduction;147
10.2;2 General Aspects of Bacillus thuringiensis;148
10.3;3 Survival in the Soil;149
10.4;4 History of Bacillus thuringiensis-Transgenic Plants;150
10.5;5 Persistence of the Protein Crystal in the Soil;151
10.6;6 Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis and Its Bio-insecticide Protein on Functional Soil Microorganism Assemblage;152
10.7;References and Selected Reading;156
11;8 The Use of ACC Deaminase-Containing Plant Growth- Promoting Bacteria to Protect Plants Against the Deleterious Effects of Ethylene;159
11.1;1 Introduction;159
11.2;2 Ethylene;160
11.3;3 ACC Deaminase;161
11.4;4 Conclusions;166
11.5;References and Selected Reading;167
12;9 Interactions Between Epiphyllic Microorganisms and Leaf Cuticles;171
12.1;1 Introduction;171
12.2;2 Physical and Chemical Parameters of the Phyllosphere;173
12.3;3 Leaf Surface Colonisation and Species Composition;175
12.4;4 Alteration of Leaf Surface Wetting;176
12.5;5 Interaction of Bacteria with Isolated Plant Cuticles;178
12.6;6 Conclusions;179
12.7;References and Selected Reading;180
13;10 Developmental Interactions Between Clavicipitaleans and Their Host Plants;183
13.1;1 Introduction;183
13.2;2 Endophyte/Epibiont Niche;183
13.3;3 Coevolution of Clavicipitalean Fungi with Grass Hosts;184
13.4;4 The Jump from Insects to Plants;184
13.5;5 Developmental Differentiation of Endophytic and Epiphyllous Mycelium;186
13.6;6 Modificati