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Plant–microbe interactions are crucial for many ecological processes. These interactions majorly take place in the rhizosphere and are mediated by the secretion of organic compounds by plant roots. These compounds act as signalling molecules and also as carbon sources for microbes. Microbial community in the rhizosphere is very diverse and consists of bacteria, archaebacteria, viruses, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoans, arthropods, algae, and nematodes. The rhizospheric microbes promote plant growth by different mechanisms such as biocontrol activity, phytohormone secretion, siderophore production, mineral solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and enzyme production. Since, a large proportion of microbial diversity is still not cultured, the detection and phylogenetic characterization of such un-/non-cultured microorganisms require advanced molecular techniques viz. metagenomics, metabolomics …