Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience
Plants host a complex but taxonomically assembled set of microbes in their natural environment which confer several benefits to the host plant including stress resilience, nutrient acquisition and increased productivity. To understand and simplify the intricate interactions among these microbes, an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/513 |
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| author | Arneeb Tariq Shengzhi Guo Fozia Farhat Xihui Shen |
| author_facet | Arneeb Tariq Shengzhi Guo Fozia Farhat Xihui Shen |
| author_sort | Arneeb Tariq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plants host a complex but taxonomically assembled set of microbes in their natural environment which confer several benefits to the host plant including stress resilience, nutrient acquisition and increased productivity. To understand and simplify the intricate interactions among these microbes, an innovative approach—Synthetic Microbial Community (SynCom)—is practiced, involving the intentional co-culturing of multiple microbial taxa under well-defined conditions mimicking natural microbiomes. SynComs hold promising solutions to the issues confronted by modern agriculture stemming from climate change, limited resources and land degradation. This review explores the potential of SynComs to enhance plant growth, development and disease resistance in agricultural settings. Despite the promising potential, the effectiveness of beneficial microbes in field applications has been inconsistent. Computational simulations, high-throughput sequencing and the utilization of omics databases can bridge the information gap, providing insights into the complex ecological and metabolic networks that govern plant–microbe interactions. Artificial intelligence-driven models can predict complex microbial interactions, while machine learning algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify key microbial taxa and their functions. We also discuss the barriers to the implementation of these technologies in SynCom engineering. Future research should focus on these innovative applications to refine SynCom strategies, ultimately contributing to the advancement of green technologies in agriculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8635e9e6f019405d8e1b9e03e9e9ebf9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-8635e9e6f019405d8e1b9e03e9e9ebf92025-08-20T02:41:43ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-02-0115351310.3390/agronomy15030513Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant ResilienceArneeb Tariq0Shengzhi Guo1Fozia Farhat2Xihui Shen3State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaFaculty of Science and Technology, Government College Women University, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanState Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaPlants host a complex but taxonomically assembled set of microbes in their natural environment which confer several benefits to the host plant including stress resilience, nutrient acquisition and increased productivity. To understand and simplify the intricate interactions among these microbes, an innovative approach—Synthetic Microbial Community (SynCom)—is practiced, involving the intentional co-culturing of multiple microbial taxa under well-defined conditions mimicking natural microbiomes. SynComs hold promising solutions to the issues confronted by modern agriculture stemming from climate change, limited resources and land degradation. This review explores the potential of SynComs to enhance plant growth, development and disease resistance in agricultural settings. Despite the promising potential, the effectiveness of beneficial microbes in field applications has been inconsistent. Computational simulations, high-throughput sequencing and the utilization of omics databases can bridge the information gap, providing insights into the complex ecological and metabolic networks that govern plant–microbe interactions. Artificial intelligence-driven models can predict complex microbial interactions, while machine learning algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify key microbial taxa and their functions. We also discuss the barriers to the implementation of these technologies in SynCom engineering. Future research should focus on these innovative applications to refine SynCom strategies, ultimately contributing to the advancement of green technologies in agriculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/513artificial intelligencebiocontrolmicrobiome engineeringnutrient availabilityroot microbiotasoil health |
| spellingShingle | Arneeb Tariq Shengzhi Guo Fozia Farhat Xihui Shen Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience Agronomy artificial intelligence biocontrol microbiome engineering nutrient availability root microbiota soil health |
| title | Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience |
| title_full | Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience |
| title_fullStr | Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience |
| title_short | Engineering Synthetic Microbial Communities: Diversity and Applications in Soil for Plant Resilience |
| title_sort | engineering synthetic microbial communities diversity and applications in soil for plant resilience |
| topic | artificial intelligence biocontrol microbiome engineering nutrient availability root microbiota soil health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/513 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT arneebtariq engineeringsyntheticmicrobialcommunitiesdiversityandapplicationsinsoilforplantresilience AT shengzhiguo engineeringsyntheticmicrobialcommunitiesdiversityandapplicationsinsoilforplantresilience AT foziafarhat engineeringsyntheticmicrobialcommunitiesdiversityandapplicationsinsoilforplantresilience AT xihuishen engineeringsyntheticmicrobialcommunitiesdiversityandapplicationsinsoilforplantresilience |