Plants have associations with various beneficial microbes, which play a role in host growth, development, and health. Research on plant promoting microbes and endophytes is currently thriving and prior studies have indicated that host type, genome, health, and abiotic factors affect diversity of plant microbiomes. Plant-associated microbes such as fungi and bacteria, including their possible applications and functions from most agricultural and medicinal plants, have all been investigated over the last few years. In addition to the use of small ribosomal subunits such as 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA, meta-omics and multi-omics have been employed to understand the diversity and applications of plant microbiomes. However, there is a paucity of current research on metabolic pathways/metabolism of the plant microbe and their role in host development and growth.
Furthermore, genetic diversity of plant microbiomes such as viruses, protists and archaea are minimally reported. The functions of secondary metabolites, including small molecule products secreted by the microbes, must be elucidated for clear understanding, and their use in various biological activities and applications. Furthermore, the microbiome of forest, desert and woody plants is also inadequately researched. Given the current described status quo in plant microbiome research, this topic aims to accept original research articles and reviews on the following:
• Isolation, identification, diversity, and community of culturable and non-culturable plant microbes which include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protists, and archaea. Unexplored plants like woody, forest and desert plants will be given preference.
• Use of multi-omics and meta-omics for elucidation of the plant microbiome functions and metabolic pathways which will ultimately lead to understanding of microbe-host function and possible applications.
Plants have associations with various beneficial microbes, which play a role in host growth, development, and health. Research on plant promoting microbes and endophytes is currently thriving and prior studies have indicated that host type, genome, health, and abiotic factors affect diversity of plant microbiomes. Plant-associated microbes such as fungi and bacteria, including their possible applications and functions from most agricultural and medicinal plants, have all been investigated over the last few years. In addition to the use of small ribosomal subunits such as 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA, meta-omics and multi-omics have been employed to understand the diversity and applications of plant microbiomes. However, there is a paucity of current research on metabolic pathways/metabolism of the plant microbe and their role in host development and growth.
Furthermore, genetic diversity of plant microbiomes such as viruses, protists and archaea are minimally reported. The functions of secondary metabolites, including small molecule products secreted by the microbes, must be elucidated for clear understanding, and their use in various biological activities and applications. Furthermore, the microbiome of forest, desert and woody plants is also inadequately researched. Given the current described status quo in plant microbiome research, this topic aims to accept original research articles and reviews on the following:
• Isolation, identification, diversity, and community of culturable and non-culturable plant microbes which include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protists, and archaea. Unexplored plants like woody, forest and desert plants will be given preference.
• Use of multi-omics and meta-omics for elucidation of the plant microbiome functions and metabolic pathways which will ultimately lead to understanding of microbe-host function and possible applications.
