PGPR-mediated synthesis and alteration of different secondary metabolites during plant-microbe interactions

Omics approaches in understanding the benefits of plant-microbe interactions

Plant-microbe interactions are pivotal for ecosystem dynamics and sustainable agriculture, and are influenced by various factors, such as host characteristics, environmental conditions, and human activities. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have revolutionized our understanding of these interactions. Genomics elucidates key genes, transcriptomics reveals gene expression dynamics, proteomics identifies essential proteins, and metabolomics profiles small molecules, thereby offering a holistic perspective. This review synthesizes diverse microbial-plant interactions, showcasing the application of omics in understanding mechanisms, such as nitrogen fixation, systemic resistance induction, mycorrhizal association, and pathogen-host interactions. Despite the challenges of data integration and ethical considerations, omics approaches promise advancements in precision intervention and resilient agricultural practices. Future research should address data integration challenges, enhance omics technology resolution, explore epigenomics, and understand plant-microbe dynamics under diverse conditions. In conclusion, omics technologies hold immense promise for optimizing agricultural strategies and fortifying resilient plant-microbe alliances, paving the way for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

Recent advancements in multifaceted roles of flavonoids in plant-rhizomicrobiome interactions

The rhizosphere consists of a plethora of microbes, interacting with each other as well as with the plants present in proximity. The root exudates consist of a variety of secondary metabolites such as strigolactones and other phenolic compounds such as coumarin that helps in facilitating communication and forming associations with beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere. Among different secondary metabolites flavonoids (natural polyphenolic compounds) continuously increasing attention in scientific fields for showing several slews of biological activities. Flavonoids possess a benzo-γ-pyrone skeleton and several classes of flavonoids have been reported on the basis of their basic structure such as flavanones, flavonols, anthocyanins, etc. The mutualistic association between plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plants have been reported to help the host plants in surviving various biotic and abiotic stresses such as low nitrogen and phosphorus, drought and salinity stress, pathogen attack, and herbivory. This review sheds light upon one such component of root exudate known as flavonoids, which is well known for nodulation in legume plants. Apart from the well-known role in inducing nodulation in legumes, this group of compounds has anti-microbial and antifungal properties helping in establishing defensive mechanisms and playing a major role in forming mycorrhizal associations for the enhanced acquisition of nutrients such as iron and phosphorus. Further, this review highlights the role of flavonoids in plants for recruiting non-mutualistic microbes under stress and other important aspects regarding recent findings on the functions of this secondary metabolite in guiding the plant-microbe interaction and how organic matter affects its functionality in soil.