Role of Plant Microbiome Under Stress Environment to Enhance Crop Productivity

Abstract

Plants during their life cycle often come across multiple biotic and abiotic stress that mutilates their growth and productivity. As the world’s population is increasing gradually and the climate is changing at an alarming rate, the need for global food security has become the priority. Therefore, addressing approaches that can enhance food productivity sustainably and safeguard food availability in the future is the need of the hour. Plants possess an intrinsic defense mechanism to combat stressful environmental conditions but in severe conditions are unable to overcome persisting situations. To strengthen their defense system plants recruit associated beneficial microbiome that alleviates stresses and promotes plant growth. Plants select particular microorganisms mainly through the production of varied compounds via root exudates. The plant microbiome lives either as epiphytes in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere or as endophytes within living tissues and caters multiple beneficial effects. The plant microbiome shows resilience toward stress and promotes plant productivity through various mechanisms. These mechanisms include the production of antioxidants, antibiotics, phytohormones, exopolysaccharides, and cell wall degrading enzymes that lead to inhibition of pathogens, bioremediation of toxic metals, acquisition of nutrients, tolerance toward abiotic stress, and enhanced plant growth parameters. Engineering plant microbiome to enhance stress tolerance and plant growth may be the most sustainable approach that can ensure food security for the growing population. Thus, understanding and deciphering mechanisms employed by the plant microbiome is important to harness their potential.KeywordsRoot exudatesAntioxidantsCell wall degrading enzymesExopolysaccharidesEndophytesRhizosphere