Indigenous African agriculture and plant associated microbes: Current practice and future transgenic prospects

Reliance on non-sustainable inputs of fertilizers and pesticides does not hold the answer to obtaining higher yields from sustainable cash as well as food crops grown in Africa. Hence, the use of transgenic plants/crops and plant growth-promoting microbes with the aim of increasing productivity is attractive. In most parts of Africa, the farmers work at a subsistence level, the prevalent agricultural practice can have a significant effect on the relative abundance of the rhizosphere microbial populations. Presented here is illustrated view of plant associated microbes to soils especially in indigenous African agriculture focusing on current practice and future transgenic prospects.   Key words: Agricultural practice, crop, indigenous knowledge systems, microbial inoculants, transgenic.