Summary
This review examines the emerging role of plant microbiomes in disease resistance, moving beyond the traditional view of resistance as determined solely by plant innate immunity and pathogen virulence. The authors synthesise evidence that plant-associated microbiomes provide pathogen protection via direct inhibition, nutrient competition, and immune system activation. The review identifies agricultural practices that modulate microbiomes and calls for mechanistic studies linking farm management to microbiome dynamics for sustainable agriculture.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK agricultural policy and practice, particularly for organic and regenerative farming systems seeking disease management alternatives to synthetic fungicides. However, the review's global scope means specific recommendations for UK soil conditions, climate, and crop varieties would require targeted field validation.
Key measures
Mechanistic interactions between plants, pathogens, and microbiomes; microbiome dynamics in relation to agricultural practices (crop rotation, intercropping, resistant breeding, biocontrol, organic farming)
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises recent advances in understanding how plant-associated microbiomes confer disease resistance through direct pathogen inhibition, resource competition, and immune activation. It examines how agricultural practices modulate microbiomes and influence disease outcomes.
Topic tags
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