Plant-Microbe Interactions for Growth Promotion

Plant growth is deeply influenced by complex associations with microorganisms that inhabit the soil, root surfaces and internal tissues. Through exchanges of nutrients, signalling molecules and hormones, these interactions can enhance nutrient acquisition, modulate phytohormone balances and bolster resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Collective microbial communities—often referred to as the plant microbiome—contribute to a dynamic holobiont, in which plants actively shape the composition of their microbial partners via root exudates. Key processes include biological nitrogen fixation by diazotrophs, solubilisation of mineral nutrients such as phosphorus and iron, production of growth regulators (for example auxins and cytokinins) and induction of systemic defences that prime plants to withstand pathogens or drought. Harnessing such beneficial associations underpins strategies for sustainable agriculture, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides while improving crop productivity and resilience in the face of climate change.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that siderophore-producing rhizobacteria can be harnessed in intercropping systems to improve iron nutrition and yield. In a maize–peanut intercropping trial, plant communities converged in their root microbiome composition, enabling a Pseudomonas strain to secrete a specific siderophore that mobilises iron. Glasshouse and field experiments confirmed that this microbial metabolite enhanced iron uptake in peanut, leading to significant yield gains. These findings point towards tailored microbial amendments that exploit natural community convergence for targeted nutrient acquisition in mixed cropping systems.

Plant-Microbe Interactions for Growth Promotion publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in plant-microbe interactions for growth promotion across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Rhizosphere: The thin zone of soil directly influenced by root exudates and associated microbial activity.

Microbiome: The community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and archaea, that inhabit a defined environment such as the rhizosphere.

Siderophore: A low-molecular-weight molecule secreted by microbes to chelate and solubilise iron for uptake.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): Bacteria that colonise plant roots and enhance growth through mechanisms such as nitrogen fixation, phytohormone production or nutrient solubilisation.

Induced systemic resistance (ISR): A state of heightened defence in the plant, activated by non-pathogenic microbes, that confers broad-spectrum protection against pathogens and pests.

References

1. Root microbiota regulates tiller number in rice. Cell (2025).
2. Microbiome convergence enables siderophore-secreting-rhizobacteria to improve iron nutrition and yield of peanut intercropped with maize. Nature Communications (2024).
3. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria: Context, Mechanisms of Action, and Roadmap to Commercialization of Biostimulants for Sustainable Agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science (2018).