Engineering plant microbiomes by integrating eco-evolutionary principles into current strategies

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Microbiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Plant microbiome engineering holds promise for sustainable agriculture and food security, especially given climate change.
• Current lab-based successes in microbiome engineering have not translated effectively to large-scale field applications.
• Bridging the gap between laboratory findings and field implementation requires a more integrated scientific approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an integrated approach combining molecular, genetic, ecological, and evolutionary knowledge for plant microbiome engineering.
• To identify knowledge gaps hindering the field application of microbiome engineering strategies.
• To facilitate the translation of promising lab-based microbiome engineering techniques into practical, widespread use.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing existing literature on plant microbiome engineering, microbial community ecology, and plant-microbe evolution.
• Highlighting examples where ecological principles inform microbiome engineering efficacy and consequences.
• Examining evolutionary insights for designing plants that recruit beneficial microbial communities.
• Discussing trade-offs and potential off-target effects in plant-microbiome interactions.

Main Results:

• Understanding microbial community ecology is crucial for assessing the effectiveness and broader impacts of microbiome engineering.
• Plant-microbe evolutionary dynamics can guide the development of plants with enhanced abilities to attract specific beneficial microbes.
• Consideration of trade-offs in plant-microbiome interactions is essential to avoid unintended negative consequences.
• Multidisciplinary approaches are beneficial across various methods, from microbial inoculants to host-driven engineering.

Conclusions:

• An integrated approach, merging mechanistic and theoretical knowledge, is vital for advancing plant microbiome engineering.
• Addressing knowledge gaps through multidisciplinary research will accelerate the field application of microbiome engineering.
• Careful consideration of ecological and evolutionary factors is necessary for successful and sustainable microbiome engineering in agriculture.