Soil Warming Effects on Beneficial Plant–Microbe Interactions

Abstract

Soil warming is predicted to take place over the next centuries and drought might be a severe constraint. Soil microorganisms including beneficial plant–microbe interactions might be affected, potentially leading to impacts on host plants. On the other hand, beneficial plant microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi, endophytic fungi, as well as plant growth-promoting bacteria might play an important role under drought conditions, potentially reducing plant stress. The potential impact of soil warming on the performance of natural plant growth-promoting microorganisms colonizing the rhizosphere and establishing subpopulations inside plants is reviewed and discussed in this chapter. In addition, a discussion is provided on whether beneficial microbial inoculants could play role in plant adaptation to soil warming.