About this Research Topic

Background

Soil microbes significantly influence plant health and productivity by interacting with plant roots and forming biofilms. These biofilms create a protective microenvironment that can enhance nutrient availability, protect against pathogens, and improve plant resilience, especially under abiotic stress conditions such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. Understanding the intricate relationships between soil microbes, biofilm formation, and plant responses to abiotic stresses is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural practices and improving crop resilience and yields.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate recent advances in research on the interactions between soil microbes, biofilm formation, and plant systems under abiotic stress conditions.

The primary objectives include:

1. To investigate the diversity and functional roles of soil microbes in biofilm formation under abiotic stress.

2. To elucidate the mechanisms by which biofilms enhance plant growth and physiology under adverse environmental conditions.

3. To explore the molecular interactions between soil microbes, biofilms, and plant systems under abiotic stress.

4. To evaluate the potential applications of biofilm-forming microbes in mitigating the impacts of abiotic stress on crops.

This Research Topic aims to explore the intricate roles of soil microbes and biofilm formation in enhancing plant growth, physiology, and molecular responses under various abiotic stress conditions. We welcome contributions that focus on biofilm formation in the rhizosphere, mycorrhizosphere, and biofilms on mineral surfaces. Studies should investigate how these biofilms influence plant resilience to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, waterlogging, acid stress, and heavy metal contamination. We are particularly interested in research that provides mechanistic insights into the interactions between biofilms and plant roots, including the molecular pathways involved in stress mitigation. Contributions that utilize advanced techniques in microbiology, molecular biology, and soil science to elucidate these complex interactions are highly encouraged. This collection seeks to advance our understanding of the potential of biofilm-associated microbes in sustainable agriculture and stress resilience.
The Research Topic will cover, but is not limited to, the following topics:

1. Diversity and characterization of soil microbes involved in biofilm formation under abiotic stress.

2. Mechanisms of biofilm formation and development on plant roots in stressed environments.

3. Impact of microbial biofilms on nutrient uptake and plant growth under abiotic stress conditions.

4. Interaction between biofilms and plant hormones during abiotic stress.

5. Role of biofilms in enhancing plant resistance to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures.

6. Molecular signalling pathways involved in microbe-plant interactions within biofilms under abiotic stress.

7. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of soil microbes in biofilm formation and stress response.

8. Applications of biofilm-forming microbes in improving crop productivity and resilience to abiotic stress.

9. Case studies and field trials demonstrating the benefits of biofilm-forming microbes in agriculture under abiotic stress conditions.

We welcome researchers from various disciplines, including microbiology, plant biology, soil science, molecular biology, and agronomy, to submit their original research articles, reviews, and perspectives. Submissions should provide novel insights into the role of soil microbes and biofilm formation in plant systems under abiotic stress conditions.

Conclusion

This Research Topic will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners interested in the interactions between soil microbes, biofilm formation, and plant systems under abiotic stress conditions. By fostering a multidisciplinary dialogue, we aim to advance our understanding of these complex interactions and promote the development of innovative strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: rhizosphere, abiotic stress, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Stress Tolerance, Soil Microbes, Biofilm Formation, Plant Growth

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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