Microbiome-Based Techniques for Enhancing Crops Productivity and Eliminating Environmental Pollutants

The microbiota that inhabits the soil, different plant tissues, and various interfaces determine the fitness and health of plants. The growth and development of plants, in turn, depends on the particular roles that microbes play in creating a diverse range of favorable microenvironments for microorganisms. Agricultural productivity is drastically reduced in the field by a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses that agricultural plants must continually withstand, including heat, salt, cold, drought, herbivores, and diseases. However, further study at the biochemical and molecular levels is required since our knowledge of how plants withstand these stresses is insufficient. Worldwide, indiscriminate use of chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides is a common practice to increase crop yields on agricultural land. This practice puts the environment, biodiversity, and human health at risk, putting the land, water, and environmental footprints under serious threat. Pesticide overuse and misuse in home and agricultural settings have widely acknowledged negative environmental and public health consequences. However, considering the variety, complexity, toxicity, bioaccumulation, mobility, and persistence of pesticides in the environment, the present environmental degradation caused by pesticides and its health implications are not well known. Furthermore, the extensive use of pesticides in agriculture has led to the contamination of vegetables, milk, cow feed, and drinking water supplies. With a focus on the interactions between microbes and pesticides in soil, the study subject will provide unique insights into microbial pesticide degradation. Thus far, studies have concentrated on using naturally occurring microorganisms with varying degradation rates to break down pesticides. The breakdown of intermediates, metabolic pathways, enzymes, and other factors affecting pesticide-contaminated soil microorganisms are poorly known.

This Research Topic aims to advance our knowledge of how bacteria affect soil pesticides' breakdown. The collection attempts to provide information about the health impacts of pesticide exposure on humans and new advancements in the area.
The following themes are welcomed to be submitted, but not limited to:

- Specific Enzymatic Pathways for Microbial Pesticide Degradation

- Bioaccumulation and Biotransformation in Microbial Communities

- Innovative Bioremediation Techniques Using Engineered Microbes

- Impact of Pesticide Metabolites on Soil Microbial Ecology

Original Research investigations and Systematic Reviews on pesticide action mechanisms and related health consequences, biological monitoring, risk assessment for pesticide residue exposure, and potential strategies and corrective actions for safer and more effective pesticide usage are encouraged.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Microbiome, Pesticide Degradation, Crop Productivity, Environmental Pollutants, Biodegradation, Soil Health, Microbial Interactions, Bioremediation, Sustainable Agriculture

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.