Summary
This review examines how plants and their microbial associates regulate rhizosphere processes and shape belowground plant–soil–microbe interactions. The authors link mechanistic understanding of these belowground processes to practical avenues for sustainable agricultural intensification, arguing that integrating knowledge of belowground traits into crop breeding and agronomic management could simultaneously improve productivity, resource efficiency, and crop resilience to environmental stresses.
UK applicability
The mechanistic insights on plant–microbe–soil interactions are broadly applicable to UK temperate agriculture. However, the review does not appear to address UK-specific soil types, climate conditions, or regulatory frameworks; practitioners would need to contextualise these principles within UK pedological and climatic conditions.
Key measures
Molecular mechanisms at the plant–microbe–soil interface; belowground plant traits; rhizosphere processes; stress resilience indicators
Outcomes reported
This narrative review synthesises recent advances in understanding how plants and their associated microbiota shape rhizosphere processes at the plant–microbe–soil interface. The review identifies mechanisms and potential agricultural applications for reducing irrigation water, fertiliser inputs and pesticide use whilst maintaining or increasing productivity.
Topic tags
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