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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling

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Published on: July 22, 2017

Coumarin Communication Along the Microbiome-Root-Shoot Axis.

Max J J Stassen¹, Shu-Hua Hsu², Corné M J Pieterse¹

¹Plant-Microbe Interactions, Department of Biology, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Trends in Plant Science

|October 7, 2020

Summary

Coumarins, plant root compounds, mediate communication between plants and soil microbes. They enhance iron uptake and shape the microbiome, promoting plant growth and health.

Keywords:

ISR signaling coumarins flavonoids microbiome rhizosphere strigolactones

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Area of Science:

Plant-microbe interactions
Plant signaling
Rhizosphere biology

Background:

Plants secrete root exudates that shape the rhizosphere microbiome.
Coumarins are newly identified root exudates involved in plant-microbiome communication.
Beneficial microbes stimulate coumarin production and excretion by plant roots.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the multifaceted role of coumarins in plant-microbiome communication.
To highlight coumarins' function in bidirectional signaling along the microbiome-root-shoot axis.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on coumarins in plant-microbiome interactions.
Analysis of coumarin's roles in iron mobilization and antimicrobial activity.
Examination of coumarin's potential signaling functions analogous to strigolactones and flavonoids.

Main Results:

Coumarins facilitate iron uptake by plants from the soil.
Coumarins exhibit selective antimicrobial activity, shaping the root microbiome.
These activities promote plant growth and health.

Conclusions:

Coumarins are key mediators in the chemical dialogue between plants and their associated microbiome.
Coumarins play a crucial role in nutrient acquisition (iron) and microbiome modulation.
Evidence suggests coumarins are involved in plant signaling pathways from root to shoot.