Summary
This review, published in Plant Biotechnology Journal in 2025, synthesises current understanding of how beneficial microorganisms — such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), mycorrhizal fungi, and endophytes — modulate plant growth and immune responses. It likely draws on molecular evidence to describe how these organisms influence phytohormone networks, nutrient acquisition, and pathogen defence, framing microbial inoculants as a strategy for sustainable crop protection and productivity. The paper contributes to a growing body of literature advocating for microbiome-informed approaches to reduce reliance on synthetic agrochemicals.
UK applicability
Whilst this review is global in scope and not specific to UK conditions, its findings are broadly applicable to UK arable and horticultural systems where interest in biostimulants and microbial inoculants is growing, particularly in the context of post-Brexit agricultural policy encouraging reductions in synthetic pesticide and fertiliser use.
Key measures
Plant growth parameters; defence-related gene expression; phytohormone signalling pathways; stress tolerance indicators; mechanisms of induced systemic resistance (ISR) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR)
Outcomes reported
The study reviews how beneficial microorganisms — including rhizobacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and endophytes — regulate plant growth and defence responses. It likely examines molecular and physiological mechanisms underpinning plant–microbe interactions that contribute to improved crop welfare.
Topic tags
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