Salicylic acid (SA) is a key phytohormone that orchestrates immune responses against pathogens, including Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. The timing and extent of SA accumulation are tightly controlled...

Abstract. Bacterial competition mechanisms drive microbial community dynamics across diverse ecological niches. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) represe

Plant roots release exudates to encourage microbiome assembly, which influences the function and stress resilience of plants. How specific exudates drive spatial colonization patterns remains largely ...

In nature, plants cope with various pathogens that compete for cellular resources during infection. It has long been suggested that plant defense activity must be linked to cellular energy and metabol...

Bacteria in the soil form complex communities, and some colonize the surfaces of roots. These bacteria are not uniformly distributed, however, and exhibit precise patterning around emerging lateral roots and early root differentiation zones. Tsai et al. established that the Casparian strip, an endodermal barrier around the root vasculature, is required for normal patterning of root bacteria (see the Perspective by Kozaeva and Brophy). At locations where the Casparian strip is absent, glutamine leaks from the vasculature and serves as an attractant for soil bacteria. Using precise spatial and temporal analysis, the authors provide insight into how bacteria around the root interact both with the plant and with each other. —Madeleine Seale

Mukherjee et al. report fitness trade-off between plants and the rhizosphere microbiome under sulfur deficiency, mediated by the tri-peptide signal glutathione. Competition among rhizosphere bacteria ...

Abstract. Understanding the complex interactions between microbes and their environment requires robust model systems such as synthetic communities (SynCom

A major challenge in plant-microbe interaction research is understanding how plants distinguish between commensal and pathogenic microorganisms. We compared Arabidopsis responses to two contrasting ba...

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Plants and animals detect microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to initiate defense responses. Both lineages employ pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), yet plant mechanisms for sensing Gram-...

A fully funded CIFRE PhD position is open at UniLaSalle Rouen, France, in collaboration with Gaïago. The research focuses on biostimulants and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in wheat and maize to support sustainable and resilient agroecosystems. Start date: January 2026.

The evolutionary success of land plants is tied to their rhizosphere microbiomes. However, the principles governing how bacteria, fungi, and protists assemble and function across wild plants remain un...

Microbial conservation is essential for sustaining ecosystem functions and services

Abstract. Root exudates play major roles in the recruitment of plant microbiota. The metabolic composition of root exudates varies according to plant devel

IGZ is hiring a Research Group Leader in Plant-Microbe Systems to advance innovative research on plant-microbe interactions in horticultural crops. Apply by September 30, 2025.

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has driven a renewed interest in plant–microbiome interactions as a basis for the next “green revolution.” Central to these interactions are root-derived metabolites that act as mediators of microbial recruitment and function. Plants exude a chemically diverse array of compounds that influence the assembly, composition, and stability of the root microbiome. These metabolites can act as nutrients, chemical signals, or antimicrobial barriers, orchestrating beneficial relationships while defending against pathogenic threats. This review highlights the multifaceted role of plant metabolites in root microbiome assembly, focusing on their dynamic regulation by plant genotype, environmental conditions, and immune responses. We discuss the emerging concept of roots as metabolic architects of their associated microbiomes, wherein plant–metabolite–microbiome interactions coevolved alongside critical life-support systems such as immunity and nutrient acquisition. We propose that elucidating the mechanisms of metabolite-driven microbial selection can guide the development of future crops optimized for beneficial microbiome recruitment and enhanced resilience.