Virtually every plant can be defined as a 'superorganism' or 'holobiont', formed by the organism itself plus the enormity of microorganisms living on (epiphytic) and in (endophytic) it. These microorganisms can establish diverse plant interactions, often different from symbiosis, biotrophy, and saprotrophism. Epiphytes and endophytes are not only restricted to the root system (e.g., nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizae, among many others) but also to the aerial part of the plants, including surfaces (i.e., phyllosphere, carposphere, spermosphere) and inner tissues (leaf, fruit and seed endosphere). Indeed, the aboveground part of the plants is associated with complex and dynamic microbial communities (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, microalgae, and other microeukaryotes) that play a key role in plant physiological status, growth promotion and/or pathogenic processes.
Considering the recent advances in the knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the interactions between roots and microbes, little is known about the interactions between plants, aerial parts, and microbes. For example, whether the epigean part of healthy plants has a different microbiota from diseased or stressed plants. Additionally, both epiphytic and endophytic microbes living in the aerial part of the plants can cause symptomatic infections. Nevertheless, they also have positive effects on plants, as they can counteract pathogenic microorganisms and herbivores and increase tolerance to adverse conditions aggravated by climate change (e.g., drought, high temperature, and salinity). Moreover, they act in the plants’ life by mobilizing nutrients, promoting their uptake, and synthesizing substances that promote plant growth.
Plants' epibiome and endobiome are influenced by the plant species/variety, and the physiological and phenological stages. Another aspect could be the source of the microbes and their way of reaching the aerial part. While epiphytic microorganisms arrive mainly by air and water transport, endophytes mostly arrive from the soil. Another route of entry is through seeds, which can be involved in key functions, such as dormancy and germination. Thus, the physical, chemical, and microbiota differences, quality, and composition of the source significantly determine the composition and function of endophytic communities.
This Research Topic aims to significantly expand our understanding of the factors shaping the microbial communities' composition, structure, and functions in plant aerial organs. These microorganisms participate in the mysterious relationships between the surface and internal plant tissues, both in space and time. The aim is to collect the latest advances in these microbes’ critical functions and symbioses and combine studies on the molecular mechanisms and metabolic changes in plants that make them able to prevent, respond, or defend against aerial part microbes. We want to highlight these goals made through the lab, field, and synthetic community strategies using genetic, biochemical, and chemical tools. Finally, providing comprehensive information on modification of the epibiome and endobiome - in strict contact with the edible parts of the plants - can also contribute to the next frontiers of plant biotechnology.
Virtually every plant can be defined as a 'superorganism' or 'holobiont', formed by the organism itself plus the enormity of microorganisms living on (epiphytic) and in (endophytic) it. These microorganisms can establish diverse plant interactions, often different from symbiosis, biotrophy, and saprotrophism. Epiphytes and endophytes are not only restricted to the root system (e.g., nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizae, among many others) but also to the aerial part of the plants, including surfaces (i.e., phyllosphere, carposphere, spermosphere) and inner tissues (leaf, fruit and seed endosphere). Indeed, the aboveground part of the plants is associated with complex and dynamic microbial communities (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, microalgae, and other microeukaryotes) that play a key role in plant physiological status, growth promotion and/or pathogenic processes.
Considering the recent advances in the knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the interactions between roots and microbes, little is known about the interactions between plants, aerial parts, and microbes. For example, whether the epigean part of healthy plants has a different microbiota from diseased or stressed plants. Additionally, both epiphytic and endophytic microbes living in the aerial part of the plants can cause symptomatic infections. Nevertheless, they also have positive effects on plants, as they can counteract pathogenic microorganisms and herbivores and increase tolerance to adverse conditions aggravated by climate change (e.g., drought, high temperature, and salinity). Moreover, they act in the plants’ life by mobilizing nutrients, promoting their uptake, and synthesizing substances that promote plant growth.
Plants' epibiome and endobiome are influenced by the plant species/variety, and the physiological and phenological stages. Another aspect could be the source of the microbes and their way of reaching the aerial part. While epiphytic microorganisms arrive mainly by air and water transport, endophytes mostly arrive from the soil. Another route of entry is through seeds, which can be involved in key functions, such as dormancy and germination. Thus, the physical, chemical, and microbiota differences, quality, and composition of the source significantly determine the composition and function of endophytic communities.
This Research Topic aims to significantly expand our understanding of the factors shaping the microbial communities' composition, structure, and functions in plant aerial organs. These microorganisms participate in the mysterious relationships between the surface and internal plant tissues, both in space and time. The aim is to collect the latest advances in these microbes’ critical functions and symbioses and combine studies on the molecular mechanisms and metabolic changes in plants that make them able to prevent, respond, or defend against aerial part microbes. We want to highlight these goals made through the lab, field, and synthetic community strategies using genetic, biochemical, and chemical tools. Finally, providing comprehensive information on modification of the epibiome and endobiome - in strict contact with the edible parts of the plants - can also contribute to the next frontiers of plant biotechnology.
