Plant-Soil Microbiome Interactions for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract:

Soil microbiome is a basic biological part of agricultural ecosystems and consists of various microorganisms, like bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, viruses and other microbial groups. The interactions between these communities and the root, soil minerals, organic matter and other communities are dynamic, with the rhizosphere having the most intricate interactions. The rhizosphere is formed by the plants, which can shape it by their root exudates and other properties of their roots, and by the microorganisms, which can influence acquisition of nutrients, root development, plant defence, soil structure and plant tolerance to environmental stresses. The plant-microbe interactions are significant for sustainable agriculture, as they help in nutrient cycling, biological nitrogen fixation, mobilization of P, disease suppression and stress resilience.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi extend the ability of plant roots to explore the soil, and improve nutrient and water uptake, while plant-growth-promoting microorganisms promote plant growth by mobilizing nutrients, regulating plant hormones and suppressing pathogens. In reality the effectiveness of microbial inoculants in the field can be variable and subject to the impact of soil properties, crop genotype, environment, native soil microbial community, and interactions among the existing soil microbial community.
To manage the microbiome sustainably, therefore, it is necessary to take a holistic approach that transcends the use of individual microbial strains. Maintaining diverse and active microbial communities can be achieved through crop diversification, managing organic matter, minimizing soil disturbance, balanced fertilization, and using microbial inoculants and microbiome-informed practices. Technological developments in multi-omics, synthetic microbial communities, precision microbiome management, microbiome-informed breeding, and microbial engineering are opening up new avenues for targeted manipulation of the plant-soil microbial interaction. Incorporating plants, soil and microbes can play a role in productive, resource-efficient, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture systems.