Plant-microbiome interactions under a changing world: responses, consequences and perspectives.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Microbiology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Climate change, characterized by rising global temperatures and increased drought frequency, poses significant threats to plant performance and crop yields.
• Plant-associated microbiomes play a crucial role in modulating plant responses to various environmental stresses.
• Alterations in plant microbiome composition and function due to climate change can negatively affect host plant health and productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in understanding the impact of climate change (warming and drought) on plant-microbiome interactions.
• To explore the ecological functions of plant microbiomes at different scales, from genomes to ecosystems.
• To identify knowledge gaps and propose future research directions for plant-microbiome research under climate change.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on climate change impacts on plant-microbiome interactions.
• Synthesis of findings across genome, organism, and ecosystem levels.
• Identification of key research areas and conceptual frameworks for future studies.

Main Results:

• Plant microbiomes are critical for short-term plant adaptation to climate change (years to decades).
• Long-term plant adaptation (centuries to millennia) will involve co-evolutionary dynamics between plants and their microbiomes.
• Understanding these interactions is vital for predicting climate change effects on primary productivity.

Conclusions:

• Plant microbiomes are essential mediators of plant adaptation to climate change.
• Future research should focus on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of plant-microbiome systems.
• Harnessing microbiome functions can enhance plant resilience and inform agricultural management strategies.