DOI•
Insights into Role of Invisible Partners in Plant Growth and Development
01 Jan 2021-pp 23-48
TL;DR: In this paper, a review encompasses the recent developments in the field of plant-microbe interaction with a focus on the positive role of beneficial microbes in improving plant growth and development.
Abstract: Soil hosts a diverse array of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, among others. These microbes frequently associate with plants and interaction occurs with the environment in a unique way as a holobiome (the host genome and associated microbiome). Plant associated symbiotic microbes often augment the host with an extra layer of complex complementary functions that increase host cell plasticity and plant fitness not only under normal conditions but even during the adverse and challenging environment. Advancement in functional genomics, proteomics and metabolomics helped to understand the molecular and biochemical events during plant-microbe interaction to a larger extent. The scope of this review encompasses the recent developments in the field of plant-microbe interaction with a focus on the positive role of beneficial microbes in improving plant growth and development. In addition, the role of endophytes and their ability to modulate the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants are discussed. We conclude the chapter by proposing future application with special reference to basic and applied research related to the use of beneficial microbes in sustainable crop production and its utility for varied applications.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss evidence that upon pathogen or insect attack, plants are able to recruit protective microorganisms, and enhance microbial activity to suppress pathogens in the rhizosphere.
3,228 citations
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TL;DR: Recent developments in rhizosphere research are discussed in relation to assessing the contribution of the micro- and macroflora to sustainable agriculture, nature conservation, the development of bio-energy crops and the mitigation of climate change.
Abstract: The rhizosphere is the interface between plant roots and soil where interactions among a myriad of microorganisms and invertebrates affect biogeochemical cycling, plant growth and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. The rhizosphere is intriguingly complex and dynamic, and understanding its ecology and evolution is key to enhancing plant productivity and ecosystem functioning. Novel insights into key factors and evolutionary processes shaping the rhizosphere microbiome will greatly benefit from integrating reductionist and systems-based approaches in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. Here, we discuss recent developments in rhizosphere research in relation to assessing the contribution of the micro- and macroflora to sustainable agriculture, nature conservation, the development of bio-energy crops and the mitigation of climate change.
2,332 citations
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TL;DR: Evidence is emerging that beneficial root-inhabiting microbes also hijack the hormone-regulated immune signaling network to establish a prolonged mutualistic association, highlighting the central role of plant hormones in the regulation of plant growth and survival.
Abstract: Plant hormones have pivotal roles in the regulation of plant growth, development, and reproduction. Additionally, they emerged as cellular signal molecules with key functions in the regulation of immune responses to microbial pathogens, insect herbivores, and beneficial microbes. Their signaling pathways are interconnected in a complex network, which provides plants with an enormous regulatory potential to rapidly adapt to their biotic environment and to utilize their limited resources for growth and survival in a cost-efficient manner. Plants activate their immune system to counteract attack by pathogens or herbivorous insects. Intriguingly, successful plant enemies evolved ingenious mechanisms to rewire the plant’s hormone signaling circuitry to suppress or evade host immunity. Evidence is emerging that beneficial root-inhabiting microbes also hijack the hormone-regulated immune signaling network to establish a prolonged mutualistic association, highlighting the central role of plant hormones in the regulation of plant growth and survival.
2,132 citations
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TL;DR: This review addresses the concept of endophytism, considering the latest insights into evolution, plant ecosystem functioning, and multipartite interactions.
Abstract: All plants are inhabited internally by diverse microbial communities comprising bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protistic taxa. These microorganisms showing endophytic lifestyles play crucial roles in plant development, growth, fitness, and diversification. The increasing awareness of and information on endophytes provide insight into the complexity of the plant microbiome. The nature of plant-endophyte interactions ranges from mutualism to pathogenicity. This depends on a set of abiotic and biotic factors, including the genotypes of plants and microbes, environmental conditions, and the dynamic network of interactions within the plant biome. In this review, we address the concept of endophytism, considering the latest insights into evolution, plant ecosystem functioning, and multipartite interactions.
1,677 citations
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TL;DR: It is suggested that the plant can modulate its microbiota to dynamically adjust to its environment and to better understand the level of plant dependence on the microbiotic components, the core microbiota need to be determined at different hierarchical scales of ecology while pan-microbiome analyses would improve characterization of the functions displayed.
Abstract: Plants can no longer be considered as standalone entities and a more holistic perception is needed. Indeed, plants harbor a wide diversity of microorganisms both inside and outside their tissues, in the endosphere and ectosphere, respectively. These microorganisms, which mostly
belong to Bacteria and Fungi, are involved in major functions such as plant nutrition and plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Hence, the microbiota impact plant growth and survival, two key components of fitness. Plant fitness is therefore a consequence of the plant per se and its microbiota, which collectively form a holobiont. Complementary to the reductionist perception of evolutionary pressures acting on plant or symbiotic compartments, the plant holobiont concept requires a novel perception of evolution. The interlinkages between the plant holobiont
components are explored here in the light of current ecological and evolutionary theories. Microbiome complexity and the rules of microbiotic community assemblage are not yet fully understood. It is suggested that the plant can modulate its microbiota to dynamically adjust to its
environment. To better understand the level of plant dependence on the microbiotic components, the core microbiota need to be determined at different hierarchical scales of ecology while pan-microbiome analyses would improve characterization of the functions displayed.
1,199 citations