Plants host diverse communities of microorganisms, the plant microbiota, which play crucial roles in plant health, growth, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and disease resistance. These plant-associated microbiomes include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists and viruses, and inhabit different plant compartments such as the above-ground (phyllosphere), below-ground (rhizosphere and spermosphere) and internal tissues (endosphere).
Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have enabled the high-throughput analysis of the composition, structure and functions of plant microbiomes, improving our understanding of the complex and dynamic relationships between plants and microorganisms. Significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic, physiological and metabolic factors that influence the beneficial traits of plant microbial consortia and the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions. As plants are exposed to a range of abiotic and biotic stress challenges, which are exacerbated by climate change, ongoing research on plant microbiomes has the potential to develop microbial applications and agro-management practices to improve crop productivity and soil health.
In support of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), BMC Plant Biology launches the collection, The plant microbiome. This collection aims to cover research on the plant microbiome, focusing on its composition and functions, plant-microbe interactions, and possible implications for agricultural practices. Research only focusing on microorganisms without a clear focus on plants/crops, plant-microbe interactions and/or plant-related agricultural practices will not be considered. We invite researchers and experts in the field to submit research articles that explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Composition, interactions and dynamics of the plant-associated microbiome
- Plant microbial colonization and community assembly
- Functions of plant-associated microbiomes (e.g. impact on plant health, growth promotion, nutrient acquisition, disease resistance, stress tolerance)
- The plant-microbiome interactions in the rhizosphere, spermosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere: mechanisms, signaling and regulation
- Rhizobiome interactions and their impact on plant health
- Impact of abiotic and biotic stress on the plant microbiome
- Modulation of the plant microbiome to promote plant growth and productivity
- Impact of microbiomes on phytohormone modulation of plant growth
- Beneficial bacteria and their role in plant health and disease resilience
- Strategies for enhancing soil health through plant microbiome management
- Microbial agro-management practices for sustainable agriculture
- Evolutionary responses of plant–microbiome interactions
- The plant microbiome under climate change
Image credit: © Teerayut / stock.adobe.com
