Plant microbiome: Composition and functions in plant compartments

Abstract

Knowledge of the vastness of microbial diversity associated with plants is still limited. Plant microbiome structure and functions are shaped by several factors, including host genotype and developmental stage, the presence or absence of diseases, and environmental conditions. These factors may lead to distinct microbial communities in the rhizosphere, endosphere, and phyllosphere. Studies directed to microbial interactions in plant compartments are fundamental for understanding the microbial ecology of phytobiomes, enabling the development of microbiome-based technologies in the search for sustainable agriculture. In this chapter, we describe plant compartments, i.e., the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere, and the more common bacterial composition of each compartment. We also discuss manipulation of the plant microbiome toward improved plant health. Advances in this field will lead to strategies where the manipulation of the plant microbiome will allow the reduction of pesticide and fertilizer use in field crops, paving the way to a more sustainable agriculture.