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The rhizosphere microbiome as a decentralized immune system.
Ademir S F Araujo1, Arthur P A Pereira2, Erika V de Medeiros3
1Soil Microbial Ecology Group, Agricultural Science Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
Trends in Microbiology
|April 2, 2026
Summary
The plant
Area of Science:
- Plant biology and immunology
- Microbiome research
- Ecology
Background:
- Traditional plant immunity focuses on the plant genome.
- The role of the rhizosphere microbiome in plant defense is increasingly recognized.
- Holobiont concept integrates host and microbiome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new framework for plant immunity.
- To explore the rhizosphere microbiome as a decentralized immune system.
- To highlight plant-microbiome interactions as key to immunity.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual review and synthesis of existing research.
- Discussion of adaptive defense and memory effects in the microbiome.
- Reframing immunity through the lens of the holobiont.
Main Results:
- The rhizosphere microbiome exhibits decentralized immune system-like functions.
- Microbiome contributes adaptive defense and memory to the plant.
- Immunity is an emergent property of plant-microbiome interactions.
Conclusions:
- Plant immunity extends beyond the plant genome.
- The plant-microbiome holobiont provides a more comprehensive view of plant defense.
- Future research should focus on integrated plant-microbiome immunity.
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