Abstract
Microbial communities attached to surfaces are found in many environments including the soil. This chapter deals with the applications of developed biofilms as biofertilizers in crop production and their contribution to battle against microbial pathogens involved in plant diseases. It describes the formation of biofilm involving various processes including surface conditioning, microbial cell adsorption to conditioned surface, growth of bacteria, and formation of EPS that resulted in growth of biofilm. There are various factors responsible for the formation and growth of biofilm. It includes topography of surface, physicochemical properties of medium, hydrodynamics, horizontal gene transfer, and quorum sensing. Here are a summary of factors involved in the different stages of biofilm development: (i) initiation of biofilm formation, (ii) maturation of the biofilm, and (iii) regulation of the biofilm architectural structure. Some ecological advantage and relevance of biofilm can be listed, viz., defense, nutrient availability and metabolic cooperation, colonization, acquisition of new genetic traits, etc. At last, this chapter describes the molecular mechanism of biofilm formation and biocontrol.