Aboveground-belowground microbial interactions in plants: A call to recognize the complexity within multispecies...

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Microbiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Plants host complex microbial communities in aboveground and belowground tissues.
• These distinct microbiomes are indirectly linked via the plant host.
• Aboveground-belowground (AGBG) microbial interactions significantly impact plant health and ecosystem functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review mechanisms of microbial interactions within and between plant compartments.
• To explore how aboveground and belowground microbial communities influence each other.
• To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions in plant microbiome research.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
• Discussion of microbial interaction mechanisms.
• Application of ecological theory to plant microbiome research.

Main Results:

• Focal microbes can directly and indirectly affect microbes in distal plant compartments.
• AGBG microbial interactions represent a key, yet understudied, aspect of plant microbiome research.
• Existing ecological theories can enhance the predictive power of AGBG microbial interaction studies.

Conclusions:

• Understanding AGBG microbial interactions is essential for predicting plant responses to environmental changes.
• Future research should focus on the interconnectedness of plant-associated microbial communities.
• Harnessing AGBG microbial interactions is vital for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management.