Mechanisms and Strategies of Plant Microbiome Interactions to Mitigate Abiotic Stresses

Abstract

Abiotic stresses are the most significant factors reducing agricultural productivity. Plants face extreme environmental conditions that may affect their biological mechanisms, thereby influencing their growth and development. Microorganisms possess substantial metabolites that aid in helping plants mitigate abiotic stresses. Plants’ interaction with microbes constitutes a diversified ecosystem, as sometimes both the partners share a mutualistic relationship. Endophytes, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are examples of microorganisms that play an essential role in alleviating abiotic stresses and, hence, improving plant growth. The plant–microbe interaction leads to the modulation of complex mechanisms in the plant cellular system. Moreover, the residing microbial flora also inhibits the phytopathogens, therefore, it becomes part of plants’ innate defense system. Keeping in view the growing environmental concerns, it is important to identify the role of the plant microbiome in the transportation of nutrients to maintain sustainable production. Furthermore, it is important to identify the factors enabling plants to recruit beneficial microbial species and how to deal with the potential pathogens. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the impacts of various abiotic stressors on agricultural productivity and the role of beneficial microorganisms in mitigating the negative effects of abiotic stresses. The literature review also shows that the beneficial microbes, including PGPRs, AMFs, and endophytes, adopt various mechanisms for ameliorating the negative effects of various stresses. It has been observed that biochar and microbes, either individually or in combination, can play a significant role in maintaining plant growth under stress conditions. Although conventional inoculation of beneficial microbes mitigates abiotic stresses and enhances productivity, the advancement in genetic engineering would help transfer specific genes from the microbes to plants to aid in abiotic stress mitigation.

Detection, Diagnosis, and Preventive Management of the Bacterial Plant Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae

“…In addition, beneficial microbes can help plants defend themselves against harmful pathogens by competing for resources and secreting antimicrobial compounds [9,174]. Finally, beneficial microbes can help plants cope with environmental stressors, such as drought and extreme temperatures, by modulating their metabolism and signaling pathways; and protecting against plant's oxidative damage [185][186][187][188].…”

From salty to thriving: plant growth promoting bacteria as nature’s allies in overcoming salinity stress in plants

“…IAA synthesized by bacteria may be involved in plant-bacteria interaction at different levels, especially in plant growth and nodule formation (Lobo et al, 2023). IAA produced by PGPB can either stimulate root development when the plant inherent IAA is suboptimal, or inhibit root growth when the concentration of IAA is already optimal (Munir et al, 2022). In addition, a plant's endogenous IAA levels can also determine whether bacterial IAA promotes or inhibits plant growth, since bacterial IAA production generally favors plants with low endogenous IAA levels.…”

The potential of biostimulants on soil microbial community: a review

“…The mentioned carbohydrate materials are sulfate compounds, and the method of extraction is a means of reducing the sulfhydryl compound production that minimizes the development of crop plants. The beneficial impacts of introducing seaweed extract to crop plants are associated with stress alleviation because they possess antioxidants that inhibit cell damage as a result of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while undergoing abiotic or biotic stress (Abideen et al, 2022;Meddich, 2022).…”

“…Some microbes isolated from desert and salinity soils were evaluated. Studies have revealed how PGPMs isolated from decomposed matter applied with high salt concentration and drought could promote tolerance of plants to high temperatures and salinity (Munir et al, 2022). The investigations propose that the effectiveness of biostimulants does not inevitably correspond to the origin of the inoculant but primarily to its internal features by which their relationship with the host is satisfactory and advantageous.…”