Soil-plant-microbe interactions represent a critical area of research, as plants serve as a vital source of water and nutrients for microbes, while microbes significantly enhance plant adaptation and fitness. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques have greatly expanded our understanding of the beneficial and pathological roles that microbes play in relation to their plant hosts. These interactions encompass a wide array of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and protists. Notably, root microbiota have been shown to promote plant growth and bolster resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. There is a growing interest in the interactions between plants and bacteria, particularly in relation to associated microbiomes, which has attracted scholars from diverse fields. Despite the progress made in understanding these interactions, particularly through models like rhizobia, the complexity and dynamism of plant-bacteria relationships mean that many underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This highlights the need for further investigation into the genomics, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology of these interactions.
This research topic aims to advance our understanding of the complex interactions between plants and microbes, with the ultimate goal of contributing to crop improvement. By inviting scientists and experts to submit original research articles and reviews, the objective is to shed light on the pathogenic, symbiotic, and associative interactions of microbes with plants. The research will focus on elucidating the mechanisms behind these interactions, with an emphasis on studies that employ multi-disciplinary approaches to characterize them.
To gather further insights into the intricate dynamics of soil-plant-microbe interactions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Genomic and genetic analysis of plant-microbe interactions
- Molecular signaling pathways in plant-microbe symbioses
- Biochemical processes involved in plant-microbe relationships
- Physiological impacts of microbial interactions on plant health
- Role of root microbiota in plant growth and stress resistance
- Applications of plant-microbe interactions in sustainable agriculture
- Biodiversity preservation through understanding plant-microbe dynamics
Keywords: plant-associated microbial communities, plant microbiota, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), antagonistic bacteria, symbiosis, nitrogen fixation, phytopathogenic bacteria
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
