Emerging strategies for precision microbiome management in diverse agroecosystems

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Crop-associated microbial communities are crucial for agroecosystem health and sustainability.
• Plant-associated microorganisms represent a valuable, yet underutilized, resource for agriculture.
• Current research faces challenges in harnessing beneficial microbial functions for crop production, resource efficiency, and stress resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development of agricultural microbiome research.
• To highlight current progress and novel strategies for intentional microbiome manipulation.
• To identify knowledge gaps and propose future research priorities for microbe-assisted crop production.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on agricultural microbiomes.
• Analysis of current practices and limitations in managing agricultural microbiomes.
• Identification of key knowledge gaps in understanding microbe-assisted crop production.

Main Results:

• Agricultural microbiome research has evolved significantly, revealing complex interactions vital for agroecosystem health.
• Emerging strategies focus on intentional manipulation of microbiomes to improve crop performance and sustainability.
• Significant knowledge gaps persist, hindering the full potential of microbe-assisted crop production.

Conclusions:

• Harnessing agricultural microbiomes is key to enhancing crop production, resource efficiency, and stress resistance.
• Precision microbiome management requires a holistic, tailored, predictive, and integrative approach.
• Future research should prioritize understanding and manipulating crop microbiomes for sustainable agriculture.