Siderophores are common products of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria and of fungi. Under aerated conditions at neutral to alkaline pH, inorganic iron is extremely insoluble and its concentration is less than optimal for bacterial growth. To acquire iron bacterial cell produce siderophore. There is an enormous scope for the application of microbial siderophores for the sustainability of humans, animals and plants.
The production of siderophores is an efficient strategy of bacteria, fungi and graminaceous plants to overcome a lack of iron. The stability of the siderophore iron complex is an important factor for the efficiency of the siderophores.