Navigating the Dual Role of Nanoparticles in Plant-Microbe Interactions within Soil Ecosystems

In the cutting-edge domain of nanotechnology, significant strides have been made, transforming material science and various technological advancements. The expanded application of nanomaterials demonstrates vast potential for industrial innovations. However, the exploration of nanomaterial interactions within the fields of agriculture, food, and soil science remains underdeveloped, particularly concerning their influence on the intricate relationships between plants and soil microbial communities. The scientific community continues to investigate how nanoparticles affect the dynamics of plant-microbe interactions and their biological implications on both partners within the rhizosphere, as no definitive consensus has yet been reached. There is growing speculation that nanoparticles might disrupt the physicochemical properties of soils, modulate microbial metabolic processes, and subsequently alter the beneficial interactions between plants and microbes. Despite these concerns, nanoparticles are already being repurposed in agriculture as nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides, and nano-based biosensors, which may contribute to their accumulation in the soil and directly influence plant-microbe relationships. Emerging research indicates that engineered nanoparticles have a significant impact on both the soil microbiome and plant-associated microbial diversity and abundance, thereby influencing critical processes such as nitrogen fixation, root colonization, and plant health.

This Research Topic aims to explore the potential of nano-interventions as sustainable solutions for agriculture, particularly by enhancing plant-microbe interactions and promoting robust soil health. It seeks to investigate the effects of introducing distinct nanomaterials together with various beneficial microbial communities into soil-plant systems, with the objective of fostering improved soil health and ensuring sustainable long-term agricultural productivity. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for comprehensive insight into how nanoparticles engage with both plants and their associated microbes, providing a pathway for the effective and responsible application of nanotechnology in agroecosystems.

To gather further insights in nanoparticle–plant–microbe interactions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Nanomaterial-based enhancement of plant-microbe symbiosis
• Nano-nutrients for optimizing plant and soil health through microbial mediation
• Microbe-mediated nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides enhancing plant resilience
• Nano-Bio-Micro interactions amplifying beneficial plant-microbe relationships
• Eco-toxicological risks associated with nanoparticles on plant-growth-promoting microbes

We encourage the submission of varied article types, including original research, reviews, perspectives, and case studies.

Article types and fees

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

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

Keywords: Nanomaterials, Soil microbiome, Nano-agriculture, Microbial interactions, Ecosystem impact

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.