Woody Plant Declines. What's Wrong with the Microbiome?

Area of Science:

• Plant biology
• Ecology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Woody plant (WP) declines are a significant biological and economic issue with complex causes.
• The vascular system of WPs is crucial for nutrient and water transport and mediates plant-environment interactions.
• Seasonal activity of the vascular system highlights its role in regulating plant processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel framework for understanding and combating woody plant declines.
• To integrate the plant and its associated microbiota as a functional holobiont.
• To develop pragmatic strategies for managing plant health.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development.
• Holobiont perspective integration.
• Simultaneous consideration of physiological and pathogenic disorders.
• Focus on microbiota engineering for agronomical practices.

Main Results:

• Viewing woody plants as holobionts offers a unified approach to understanding declines.
• Simultaneous assessment of physiological and pathogenic factors is crucial.
• Microbiota engineering presents a promising avenue for developing management strategies.

Conclusions:

• Adopting a holobiont perspective is key to addressing woody plant declines.
• Integrated strategies considering plant physiology, pathology, and microbiota are essential.
• Preventive and curative agronomical practices based on microbiota engineering can enhance WP resilience.