Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) application for coping with salinity and drought: a bibliometric network multi‐analysis

Abstract Rhizobacteria play a crucial role in plant growth and yield, stimulating primary production and improving stress resistance. Climate change has several consequences worldwide that affect arable land and agriculture. Studies on plant–soil–microorganism interactions to enhance plant productivity and/or resistance to abiotic stress may open new perspectives. This strategy aims to make agricultural‐relevant plant species able to complete their biological cycle in extreme soils with the help of inoculated or primed plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). We provide an overview of the evolution of interest in PGPR research in the last 30 years through: (i) a quantitative search on the Scopus database; (ii) keyword frequencies and clustering analysis, and (iii) a keyword network and time‐gradient analysis. The review of scientific literature on PGPR highlighted an increase in publications in the last 15 years, and a specific time gradient on subtopics, such as abiotic stresses. The rise in PGPR as a keyword co‐occurring with salinity and drought stresses aligns with the growing number of papers from countries directly or partly affected by climate change. The study of PGPR, its features, and related applications will be a key challenge in the next decades, considering climate change effects on agriculture. The increased interest in PGPR leads to deeper knowledge focused specifically on researching agriculturally sustainable solutions for soils affected by salinity and drought.