Abstract
Nowadays, the worldwide agriculture is experiencing a transition process toward more sustainable production, which requires the reduction of chemical inputs and the preservation of microbiomes’ richness and biodiversity. Plants are no longer considered as standalone entities, and the future of agriculture should be grounded on the study of plant-associated microorganisms and all their potentiality. Moreover, due to the climate change scenario and the resulting rising incidence of abiotic stresses, an innovative and environmentally friendly technique in agroecosystem management is required to support plants in facing hostile environments. Plant-associated microorganisms have shown a great attitude as a promising tool to improve agriculture sustainability and to deal with harsh environments. Several studies were carried out in recent years looking for some beneficial plant-associated microbes and, on the basis of them, it is evident that Actinomycetes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have shown a considerable number of positive effects on plants’ fitness and health. Given the potential of these microorganisms and the effects of climate change, this review will be focused on their ability to support the plant during the interaction with abiotic stresses and on multi-omics techniques which can support researchers in unearthing the hidden world of plant–microbiome interactions. These associated microorganisms can increase plants’ endurance of abiotic stresses through several mechanisms, such as growth-promoting traits or priming-mediated stress tolerance. Using a multi-omics approach, it will be possible to deepen these mechanisms and the dynamic of belowground microbiomes, gaining fundamental information to exploit them as staunch allies and innovative weapons against crop abiotic enemies threatening crops in the ongoing global climate change context.
Highlights
The association between plants and microorganisms is a well-known concept whose importance has already been demonstrated in several experimental works [1]
Nowadays it is known that these microbes are characterized by a great potential for improving the sustainability and stability of agricultural productions and that a great progress has been made in understanding the AM symbiosis, considerable gaps of knowledge need to be filled in optimizing agroecosystem services associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
Ongoing climate change has been increasing the negative impact of abiotic stresses on plants, limiting agricultural productivity
Summary
The association between plants and microorganisms is a well-known concept whose importance has already been demonstrated in several experimental works [1]. A disease-suppressive soil was more effective in priming resistance compared to disinfected substrates, supporting the hypothesis that microbiota contained in different soils may trigger different plant responses Beyond this background, researchers are looking for new sustainable strategies for field management by improving microbial biodiversity, favoring the beneficial ones and reducing the accumulation of phytopathogenic species [9]. Actinomycetes are beneficial bacteria that interact with plants as free-living non-obligated symbiotic organisms, and they have shown over time great potential in improving the future of agriculture [14] They have been found mainly in the soil, but they are able to colonize plant roots and tissue, living as endophyte or establishing a mutualistic relationship with plants. Limitations and caveats in the use of these approaches, as well as the importance to combine them with biochemical and physiological data to obtain information on mechanisms involved in the interactions, will be underlined
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