Microbial Bioactives
Microbial Bioactives | Online ISSN 2209-2161
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Volume 9 Number 1 2026
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Harnessing Plant Microbiomes for Sustainable Agriculture: Integrating Ecological Complexity, Microbial Function, and Translational Insights
Bulbul Shaikat 1, Tahsin Bin Rabbani 1, Salaman Ahamad 2
Microbial Bioactives 9 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/microbbioacts.9110616
Submitted: 11 December 2025 Revised: 05 February 2026 Accepted: 14 February 2026 Published: 16 February 2026
Abstract
Global food security faces unprecedented challenges, with the world population projected to surpass 9.8 billion by 2050, necessitating a 70% increase in agricultural productivity. Plants, as sessile organisms, constantly confront biotic and abiotic stressors, including pathogens, drought, salinity, and the effects of climate change. These stressors can reduce yield, disrupt hormonal signaling, and enhance susceptibility to diseases such as Fusarium head blight, which drastically impacts crop quality. Traditional reliance on synthetic chemicals for crop protection is increasingly limited by environmental concerns, fungicide resistance, and regulatory constraints, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Plant Microbiome Management has emerged as a promising strategy, leveraging the complex microbial communities associated with plants, often termed the “second genome.” These communities, particularly in the rhizosphere, comprise diverse bacteria, fungi, archaea, viruses, and protists, whose interactions influence plant growth, disease resistance, and nutrient acquisition. Microbiome engineering, including the use of biocontrol agents (BCAs) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), offers environmentally friendly disease suppression through competition, antibiosis, and induction of systemic resistance. Advances in omics technologies and synthetic microbial community design accelerate the identification of effective microbial consortia. However, translating laboratory success into consistent field performance remains a challenge due to abiotic constraints, microbial competition, and molecular complexity. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on plant–microbe interactions, ecological dynamics, and practical applications, providing insights for sustainable crop production strategies that harness the full potential of plant-associated microbiomes.
Keywords: Plant microbiome, rhizosphere, biocontrol agents, PGPR, microbiome engineering, sustainable agriculture, plant–microbe interactions, omics technologies
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