Abstract
Plant−microbe interaction research has had a transformative trajectory, from individual microbial isolate studies to comprehensive analyses of plant microbiomes within the broader phytobiome framework. Acknowledging the indispensable role of plant microbiomes in shaping plant health, agriculture, and ecosystem resilience, we underscore the urgent need for sustainable crop production strategies in the face of contemporary challenges. We discuss how the synergies between advancements in ‘omics technologies and artificial intelligence can help advance the profound potential of plant microbiomes. Furthermore, we propose a multifaceted approach encompassing translational considerations, transdisciplinary research initiatives, public-private partnerships, regulatory policy development, and pragmatic expectations for the practical application of plant microbiome knowledge across diverse agricultural landscapes. We advocate for strategic collaboration and intentional transdisciplinary efforts to unlock the benefits offered by plant microbiomes and address pressing global issues in food security. By emphasizing a nuanced understanding of plant microbiome complexities and fostering realistic expectations, we encourage the scientific community to navigate the transformative journey from discoveries in the laboratory to field applications. As companies specializing in agricultural microbes and microbiomes undergo shifts, we highlight the necessity of understanding how to approach sustainable agriculture with site-specific management solutions. While cautioning against overpromising, we underscore the excitement of exploring the many impacts of microbiome−plant interactions. We emphasize the importance of collaborative endeavors with societal partners to accelerate our collective capacity to harness the diverse and yet-to-be-discovered beneficial activities of plant microbiomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1742-1752 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Phytopathology |
| Volume | 114 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2024 |
Funding
Funding: Support was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project IOW04108 (G. A. Beattie); Plant Microbe Interfaces and the Secure Ecosystem Engineering and Design Projects, Genomic Sciences Program, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, DOE Support was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project IOW04108 (G. A. Beattie); Plant Microbe Interfaces and the Secure Ecosystem Engineering and Design Projects, Genomic Sciences Program, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, DOE Office of Science (D. A. Jacobson); and the International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research (K. Eversole). We thank the International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research and its sponsors for organizational, administrative, and logistical support; and Laramy Enders and Jason Wallace for helpful comments on the manuscript. This manuscript has been coauthored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract number DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes.
Keywords
- biological control
- biotechnology
- data science
- disease control and pest management
- endophytic interactions
- microbiome
- modeling
- plant stress and abiotic disorders
- rhizobial interactions
- systems biology
