Observing the invisible: X-ray CT for plant-microbe interactions.

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Microbiology
• Soil Science
• Imaging Technology

Background:

• Plant-microbe interactions are crucial for plant health and productivity.
• The spatial structure of soil and the rhizosphere significantly impacts these interactions.
• Traditional methods often overlook the physical soil context in experimental designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the potential of X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) as a primary tool for studying plant-microbe interactions.
• To discuss how quantifiable soil structural traits from X-ray CT can influence microbial behavior and plant responses.
• To propose X-ray CT as a platform for developing predictive, structure-aware in silico frameworks for plant-microbe research.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) for non-destructive, 3D, time-resolved imaging of intact root-soil systems.
• Quantifying key soil structural traits relevant to plant-microbe interactions.
• Integrating structural data with biological measurements (molecular, microbiome) and modeling approaches.

Main Results:

• X-ray CT provides direct access to the structural context of plant-microbe interactions.
• Structural traits can be quantified to understand their influence on microbial communities, plant immunity, and disease.
• The approach allows disentangling direct microbial effects from indirect, structure-mediated feedbacks.

Conclusions:

• X-ray CT offers a powerful experimental platform to study structure-function relationships in the rhizosphere.
• It enables the selection of root traits and soil management practices that engineer favorable microhabitats.
• Overcoming limitations in access, expertise, and data integration will facilitate the development of 'digital rhizospheres' for predictive plant-microbe research.