Harnessing plant-microbe interactions: Strategies for enhancing resilience and nutrient acquisition for sustainable agriculture

Abdulhamid Yusuf ^1,2 Si-Yu Zhang ^3* Rui-Fang Luo ^3* Ya-Xiao Wu ^3* Ting-Ting Zhang ^3* Fidelis O. Ajibade ⁴ Adamu Yunusa Ugya ^5* Yunzeng Zhang ^1* Shuo Duan ^3*

• ¹ Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
• ² Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Federal University, PMB 5001, Dutsin-ma, Nigeria
• ³ Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Pest and Disease Control of Featured Horticultural Plants, Gannan 7 Normal University, Ganzhou, China
• ⁴ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria
• ⁵ Department of Environmental Management, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria

The rhizosphere, a dynamic and biologically active zone where plant roots interface with soil, plays a pivotal role in enhancing plant health, resilience, and stress tolerance. It is increasingly regarded as central to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 by fostering sustainable agricultural productivity. Engineering the rhizosphere microbiome has emerged as a transformative approach to promoting plant growth, improving stress adaptation, and restoring soil health while mitigating the adverse impacts of conventional farming practices. Advancements in omics technologies, sequencing tools, and synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) have shed light on the intricate plant-microbe interactions that regulate nutrient cycling, suppress diseases, and alleviate environmental stresses. Root exudates comprising organic acids, amino acids, sugars, and secondary metabolites act as biochemical cues that attract and shape beneficial microbial communities in the rhizosphere. This review highlights the potential of tailored SynComs to enhance plant resilience against abiotic stresses (e.g., drought, salinity) and biotic challenges (e.g., pathogens, pests). It further explores how advanced omics techniques, including metagenomics and metabolomics, decipher the mechanisms by which root exudates influence microbial communities and plant health. By integrating multi-disciplinary approaches and optimizing root exudate profiles, ecological engineering of plant-microbiome interactions offers a sustainable pathway for boosting crop productivity, managing soil-borne diseases, and reducing dependence on chemical inputs. These innovative strategies align with Sustainable Development Goal, contributing to global food security, long-term agricultural productivity, and ecological sustainability while preserving soil and plant health for future generations.