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Rhizospheric Plant-Microbe Interactions: miRNAs as a Key Mediator
Harriet Middleton1, Étienne Yergeau2, Cécile Monard1
1University of Rennes 1, CNRS/UMR 6553/OSUR, Ecosystems - Biodiversity - Evolution, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France.
Trends in Plant Science
|October 10, 2020
Summary
Microorganisms are vital for plant health, and plants and microbes co-create the plant microbiota. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are proposed as key mediators in plant-microbe communication and holobiont engineering.
Area of Science:
- Plant science
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Microorganisms significantly influence plant development, nutrition, and stress tolerance.
- The holobiont concept emphasizes the integrated nature of plant-microbe interactions.
- Plant microbiota structure is increasingly viewed as a co-shaped entity by plants and microbes, moving beyond a purely host-driven perspective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose microRNAs (miRNAs) as critical mediators in plant-microbe interactions within the rhizosphere.
- To suggest miRNAs as a novel approach for holobiont engineering, offering an alternative to microbial inoculants.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of current understanding of plant-microbe interactions and microbiota assembly.
- Hypothesizing the role of plant-derived small RNAs (miRNAs) in mediating cross-kingdom communication.
- Evaluating the potential of miRNAs for targeted holobiont engineering.
Main Results:
- The study posits that miRNAs are central to the communication network between plants and microbes.
- It highlights the co-shaping of the plant microbiota by both plant and microbial partners.
- Evidence suggests miRNAs can influence microbial community structure and function in the rhizosphere.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are proposed as key regulators of plant-microbe interactions and microbiota development.
- miRNAs offer a promising avenue for developing new strategies in holobiont engineering.
- This approach could overcome limitations of traditional microbial inoculant strategies.
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