The complex interplay between plant-microbe and virus interactions in sustainable agriculture: Harnessing phytomicrobiomes for enhanced soil health, designer plants, resource use efficiency, and food security

Abstract

The present-day climate change scenario represents a substantial peril to the global population concerning food security, given the potential impacts on agricultural productivity, food availability, and accessibility. The excessive use of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, leads to the deterioration of soil health as well. Sustainable land-use practices without perturbing the soil ecosystem are achievable only with a comprehensive mechanism. The current need for sustainable agriculture is fulfilled by harnessing the noble services of plant-microbial association. Microhabitats around plant roots represent the region of maximum microbial activity. Microbiomes play a functional role in affecting plant growth, soil fertility and biogeochemical cycles. Plant-microbe interactions are highly specific to the host controlled by root exudates, metabolites, environmental factors and symbiotic associations e.g. legume-rhizobia and plant-fungi association. Proper strategies for the use of microbial inoculants will certainly facilitate the various crop improvement programs. The present review, therefore, exemplifies the various studies on the potential of plant microbiomes for sustainable agricultural ecosystems coupled with assuring food security. The review also summarizes recent trends in plant microbiome diversity, the relationship between host plant and microbe, transgenic plants, designer plants and their role in mitigating soil stress. Nevertheless, the future of the global population and food production rely on the prospects of plant microbiome ingenuity.