Signals in the rhizosphere and their effects on the interactions between microorganisms and plants

Abstract

Plants exude a variety of organic compounds and inorganic ions into the rhizosphere, which change the chemistry and biology of the root microenvironment. The rhizosphere is the zone of soil surrounding a plant root, where the biology and chemistry of the soil are influenced by the root. All chemical compounds secreted by plants into the rhizosphere are collectively named rhizodepositions. Microorganisms modify the biochemical and physical properties of the rhizosphere and contribute to root growth and plant survival. However, the fate of root exudates in the rhizosphere and the nature of their reactions in the soil remain poorly understood. In this chapter, we analyze different types of molecules produced by roots and their interaction with the rhizosphere.