Plant and Microbial Genomics in Crop Improvement

Abstract

Classical soil science approaches have enabled us to establish basic principles of how the soil system functions and have answered numerous practical agricultural application questions. In recent years, efforts have been refocused on better understanding, managing, and benefiting from this system that contains one of the most complex biological communities of the planet. Soil biology is seen as being at the center of scientific research of this century with novel research objectives and goals being set. Genomics and metagenomics along with microbiological techniques are contributing greatly to advances in our understanding of living systems that exist in the soil and their interaction with plants. For its part, molecular plant nutrition has made significant progress in understanding the use of nutrients by plant cells and has identified molecular mechanisms that can improve nutrient use efficiency. Together, molecular soil microbiology and molecular plant nutrition are projected to be a driving force in agriculture and sustainable food production in the coming years.