Steering soil microbiome to enhance soil system resilience

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Soil Microbiology
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Soil-borne pathogens pose significant threats to global food production and crop yields.
• Current management strategies, including resistant varieties and chemical controls, have limitations such as ineffectiveness and environmental pollution.
• There is a critical need to improve the soil's intrinsic ability to resist pathogens, known as soil immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms by which the soil microbiome suppresses pathogens.
• To explore microbiome-based strategies for enhancing soil immunity and resilience.
• To provide insights for developing sustainable agricultural systems.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of soil health, soil-borne diseases, and microbiome functions.
• Analysis of pathogen-host-environment interactions in soil ecosystems.
• Synthesis of current research on microbiome-based disease suppression.

Main Results:

• Soil immunity is primarily driven by the functional soil microbiome.
• Pathogen-microbiome interactions are sensitive to soil contaminants, altering microbial communities.
• Targeting the soil microbiome can limit disease development and reduce pollution.

Conclusions:

• Developing microbiome-based techniques is essential for improving soil immunity and resilience.
• Steering the functional soil microbiome offers a sustainable approach to disease management.
• This review highlights the potential of microbiome-based strategies for a more sustainable agricultural future.