Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
11:16
A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
Published on: July 22, 2017
14.6K
Molecular mechanisms modulating beneficial plant root-microbe interactions: What's common?
Juan Antonio Lopez-Raez1, Joanna Banasiak2, Manuel Becana3
1Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZ-CSIC), 18008 Granada, Spain.
Plant Communications
|November 9, 2025
Summary
Sustainable agriculture requires understanding beneficial microbes. This review details molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions like arbuscular mycorrhiza and rhizobium-legume symbiosis, crucial for reducing chemical inputs and enhancing biodiversity.
Area of Science:
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Sustainable agriculture
- Molecular mechanisms
Background:
- Climate change necessitates sustainable agrifood strategies.
- Beneficial microbes offer alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Variability and knowledge gaps hinder microbe implementation in agriculture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review molecular mechanisms of beneficial plant root-microbe interactions.
- To highlight common mechanisms and knowledge gaps.
- To promote microbe use for sustainable agriculture.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of plant-microbe interactions.
- Focus on signaling, metabolic, and regulatory pathways.
- Analysis of arbuscular mycorrhiza, rhizobium-legume symbiosis, ectomycorrhiza, and endophyte associations.
Main Results:
- Detailed molecular mechanisms of key plant-microbe symbioses.
- Identified signaling pathways for beneficial microbe recognition.
- Elucidated metabolic and regulatory pathways for symbiosis.
Conclusions:
- Understanding molecular mechanisms is key to optimizing beneficial microbe applications.
- Addressing knowledge gaps will enhance microbe use in sustainable agriculture.
- Microbial consortia can reduce chemical dependence and protect biodiversity.
Related Concept Videos
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
46.5K
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.
46.5K
02:40Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
16.5K
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...
16.5K
02:26Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores
29.5K
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.
29.5K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
918
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...
918
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
6.1K
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
6.1K
01:27Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
1.3K
Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
1.3K