Abstract: The rhizosphere and plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are important concepts in biology, and become one of research hotspots in soil microbiology and microecology. Total 53 species (isolates) belonging to 27 genera of PGPR were isolated from food crops, economic crops and other plants grown in China, of which isolates in Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter and Burkholderia are common and widely distributed PGPR. It is well documented that PGPR can activate soil nutrients, improve soil physical and chemical characteristics, increase soil fertility, antagonize pathogens, decrease plant diseases, enhance plant resistance to diseases, salt stress, coldness and heavy metal toxicity, improve crop growth, development, yield and quality through directly synthesizing hormones, antibiotics and other secondary metabolites, and by regulating plant related gene expressions and other living organisms community structure in rhizosphere. All of these effects are influenced by PGPR species or isolates, other living organisms, soil conditions and agricultural measures. Several PGPR agents developed have been commercialized, produced and applied for enhancing plant growth and controlling soilborn diseases with superior effects. In addition, whole genome sequencing analysis of several species and isolates of PGPR were finished in China. It is concluded that great achievements have been obtained in basic application research, and a solid foundation for realizing the industrialization and application of PGPR has been laid in China. There are broad application prospects for PGPR solving some difficult problems in crop production and promoting the sustainable development of agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.

Key words: respiration, biocrusts, low temperature, simulated warming