Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
11:16
A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
Published on: July 22, 2017
14.3K
Plant-Microbe Interaction: Aboveground to Belowground, from the Good to the Bad
Kalaivani Nadarajah1, Nur Sabrina Natasha Abdul Rahman1
1Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|October 13, 2021
Summary
Restoring soil health is crucial for agriculture due to chemical overuse. Studying soil microbes and their functions can help develop sustainable practices for improved plant growth and fertility.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Agricultural lands face declining productivity due to prolonged use of chemical-intensive farming systems.
- Soil health and fertility are critical concerns impacting global food production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the soil rhizosphere to understand microbial diversity, density, and population structure.
- To identify microbial functions that can restore soil health and fertility.
- To review aboveground and below-ground microbiomes, their roles in plant health, and research methodologies.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of the soil rhizosphere to identify microbial communities.
- Review of existing literature on soil microbiomes and their functions.
- Analysis of microbial roles in plant immunity and physiological processes.
Main Results:
- Soil microbes possess niche functions vital for plant growth, disease suppression, and nutrient cycling.
- Understanding microbial populations is key to predicting and restoring soil health.
- Diverse aboveground and below-ground microbiomes play significant roles in agricultural ecosystems.
Conclusions:
- Identifying specific microbes and their functions is essential for agricultural innovation.
- Research into soil microbiomes offers pathways to sustainable agriculture.
- This knowledge can guide the development of practices to enhance soil health and productivity.
Related Concept Videos
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
44.1K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
44.1K
02:40Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
15.1K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
15.1K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
464
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
464
02:26Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores
28.0K
Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
28.0K
00:58Symbiosis
34.3K
Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
34.3K
00:46Bioremediation
21.1K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
21.1K