Summary
This review synthesises recent mechanistic evidence (2020–2025) on how soil microbiota in the rhizosphere enable crop adaptation to abiotic stresses under climate change. The authors demonstrate that plant stress responses emerge from soil–plant–microbiome coupling rather than plant traits alone, and identify both the biochemical pathways microbes employ (phytohormone modulation, osmolyte synthesis, volatile signaling) and the soil, genotypic, and legacy factors that constrain their effectiveness. The work critically appraises current rhizosphere engineering approaches (synthetic communities, inoculants, amendments, microbiome breeding) and argues that cropping-system history—particularly legume-inclusive rotations—shapes microbial recruitment and intervention persistence.
Regional applicability
The review is global in scope and synthesis, drawing on evidence from diverse agroecological contexts. Findings on the importance of cropping-system legacy and legume rotations are directly applicable to United Kingdom temperate and mixed farming systems, where rotation design and soil legacy strongly influence microbial function; however, specific mechanistic pathways and intervention efficacy may vary with UK soil types, climate, and cropping practices and require localised validation.
Key measures
Mechanisms of microbial stress mitigation including phytohormone modulation, osmolyte and exopolysaccharide synthesis, volatile-mediated signaling, and nutrient-transforming metabolites; soil structural, chemical, and ecological factors constraining microbial establishment; effectiveness of synthetic communities, inoculants, soil amendments, and microbiome-based breeding.
Outcomes reported
Synthesis of mechanistic evidence on how rhizosphere microbiota contribute to crop stress adaptation under climate change, examining microbial pathways and constraints on microbiome-based interventions. Identifies knowledge gaps and scalability challenges for microbiome engineering strategies across diverse cropping systems.
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