Microbe-mediated amelioration of cold stress in plants: mechanisms and challenges

Cold stress is one of the main obstacles to developing high-quality crops and global food security. Numerous molecular, physiological, and biochemical modifications occur in plants under different cold environments. Therefore, providing eco-friendly, economically viable, and sustainable solutions for guaranteeing high-quality food production in cold regions becomes essential. Crop growth and development in low-temperature environments may be improved using cold-tolerant microorganisms (CTMs). CTMs offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to shield crops from damage caused by cold stress. They can also stimulate crop development by regulating the production of phytohormones, increasing nutrient uptake, controlling siderophores, and activating the antioxidant system in cold environments. As a result, it is crucial to explore the interactions of plants with CTMs in cold climates, which may serve as a critical cold-stress engineer to address high-altitude farming difficulties worldwide. In this chapter, we explore the role and mechanisms used by CTMs to increase agricultural output sustainably in cold environments, highlighting the challenges facing their application.