Harnessing root exudates for plant microbiome engineering and stress resistance in plants

Abstract

A wide range of abiotic and biotic stresses adversely affect plant's growth and production. Under stress, one of the main responses of plants is the modulation of exudates excreted in the rhizosphere, which consequently leads to alterations in the resident microbiota. Thus, the exudates discharged into the rhizospheric environment play a preponderant role in the association and formation of plant-microbe interactions. In this review, we aimed to provide a synthesis of the latest and most pertinent literature on the diverse biochemical and structural compositions of plant root exudates. Also, this work investigates into their multifaceted role in microbial nutrition and intricate signaling processes within the rhizosphere, which includes quorum-sensing molecules. Specifically, it explores the contributions of low molecular weight compounds, such as carbohydrates, phenolics, organic acids, amino acids, and secondary metabolites, as well as the significance of high molecular weight compounds, including proteins and polysaccharides. It also discusses the state-of-the-art omics strategies that unveil the vital role of root exudates in plant-microbiome interactions, including defense against pathogens like nematodes and fungi. We propose multiple challenges and perspectives, including exploiting plant root exudates for host-mediated microbiome engineering. In this discourse, root exudates and their derived interactions with the rhizospheric microbiota should receive greater attention due to their positive influence on plant health and stress mitigation.