Plant-Microbe Interactions: A Molecular Approach to Sustainable Agriculture
Abstract
Plant-microbe interactions represent a crucial frontier in modern agriculture, offering eco-friendly and efficient alternatives to traditional farming practices. These interactions involve complex molecular dialogues between plants and a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and archaea. Beneficial microbes, such as rhizobia, mycorrhizal fungi, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), contribute to plant health by enhancing nutrient acquisition, improving stress tolerance, and protecting against pathogens. At the molecular level, signaling pathways involving plant hormones, secondary metabolites, and microbial elicitors orchestrate these interactions, leading to induced systemic resistance and growth promotion. Advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have provided detailed insights into the molecular mechanisms governing these symbiotic and mutualistic relationships. This knowledge underpins the development of bioinoculants and microbial consortia tailored for specific crops and environments, reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Integrating plant-microbe molecular biology into sustainable agriculture practices promises increased crop yield, soil fertility, and resilience to climate change. However, challenges remain in translating laboratory findings to field applications due to the complexity of microbial communities and environmental variability. This paper reviews the current molecular understanding of plant-microbe interactions, highlights their roles in sustainable agriculture, and discusses emerging biotechnological tools that can optimize these interactions to meet global food security demands.
How to Cite This Article
Gabriel Ortiz, Clara Moretti (2025). Plant-Microbe Interactions: A Molecular Approach to Sustainable Agriculture . International Journal of Biological and Biomedical Research (IJBBMR), 1(2), 12-14.