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Plant–Soil–Microbes: A Tripartite Interaction for Better Soil Quality and Crop...
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Plant–Soil–Microbes: A Tripartite Interaction for Better Soil Quality and Crop Growth

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2026) | Viewed by 1935

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chen Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Botany, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: phytomicrobial interactions; bioremediation of polluted environment; adaptive evolution of plant and microbial communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xihui Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: synthesis of microbiomes; environmental microorganisms; microbiome–plant interactions; microbial secondary metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhenzhu Su

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: exploration and application of plant endophytic fungi resources; identification and prevention of plant diseases; interaction mechanisms between microorganisms and hosts

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intricate interplay between plants, soil, and microbes forms the foundation of sustainable agriculture and ecosystem health and understanding these interactions is essential for the development of strategies that improve soil quality and promote crop growth, particularly in the face of changing environmental conditions. This Special Issue seeks to explore the latest advancements in the field of plant–soil–microbe interactions, emphasizing their impact on soil health and crop productivity. We aim to highlight pioneering research that clarifies the mechanisms behind these interactions, including microbial community dynamics, root exudates, and symbiotic relationships. Papers offering innovative insights into the management of these interactions for sustainable agriculture will be especially appreciated.

We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, and opinion pieces addressing a broad range of topics, including but not limited to: microbial diversity and its role in soil health; plant–microbe interactions within sustainable farming systems; innovative agricultural practices that enhance plant–soil–microbe interactions; the role of soil microbes in plant stress resistance and resilience; and ecological engineering strategies to optimize plant–soil–microbe systems. We invite you to join us in advancing the understanding of these crucial interactions and their applications in agriculture.

Dr. Chen Chen
Dr. Xihui Xu
Dr. Zhenzhu Su
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant–soil–microbe interactions
  • sustainable agriculture
  • soil health
  • microbial diversity
  • root exudates
  • microbial community dynamics
  • symbiotic relationships
  • crop productivity
  • innovative agricultural practices
  • ecological engineering

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4537 KB  
Article
Parasitism by Monochasma savatieri Promotes Blueberry Growth and Development via Modulation of the Rhizosphere Micro-Environment
by Yuping Pu, Li Liu, Ci Chen, Yanfang Li, Yihan Zhao, Xueqing Shen and Zaibiao Zhu
Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070735 - 26 Mar 2026
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Abstract
The rhizosphere is a critical interface linking plants and soil; however, the mechanisms by which parasitic plants affect host growth through rhizosphere microecological changes remain unclear. This study systematically elucidates how Monochasma savatieri, a hemiparasitic plant, promotes blueberry growth by reshaping rhizosphere [...] Read more.
The rhizosphere is a critical interface linking plants and soil; however, the mechanisms by which parasitic plants affect host growth through rhizosphere microecological changes remain unclear. This study systematically elucidates how Monochasma savatieri, a hemiparasitic plant, promotes blueberry growth by reshaping rhizosphere microecology. Pot experiments showed that parasitism significantly enhanced urease, sucrase, and soil nitrate reductase activities, improving organic matter decomposition and nutrient transformation efficiency. Concurrently, soil total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK), along with alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) and available potassium (AK), decreased, suggesting enhanced nutrient absorption by roots. At the microbial level, parasitism altered community composition and diversity, enriching functional taxa such as Nitrosomonas, OLB5, and Serendipita. Functionally, pathways related to stress resistance (necroptosis and glutamatergic synapses) were activated, whereas those linked to pathogen colonization (Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation and tryptophan metabolism) were suppressed. These modifications reduced harmful microbial competition, optimized nutrient cycling and signaling networks, and established a favorable rhizosphere microenvironment for root health. By integrating soil enzyme activity, nutrient dynamics, and microbial functions, M. savatieri systemically improves the rhizosphere microenvironment, ultimately enhancing blueberry growth. This study provides theoretical support for intercropping and management of parasitic plants with blueberries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Soil–Microbes: A Tripartite Interaction for Better Soil Quality and Crop Growth)
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14 pages, 2132 KB  
Article
Growth-Promoting Effects of VOCs Produced by Trametes hirsuta and Talaromyces pinophilus on Rice
by Dengke Shao, Qian Xu, Xiaolong Lv, Chaoran Li, Lei Luo, Jin Xu, Yadong Zhang, Chunfang Zhao and Chen Chen
Agriculture 2025, 15(23), 2451; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15232451 - 26 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 727
Abstract
Plant endophytic fungi, which colonize plant tissues and form symbiotic relationships with their hosts, are known for their high diversity and wide distribution. These fungi often influence plant growth and development through the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), whose effects can extend [...] Read more.
Plant endophytic fungi, which colonize plant tissues and form symbiotic relationships with their hosts, are known for their high diversity and wide distribution. These fungi often influence plant growth and development through the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), whose effects can extend beyond host plants to non-host species. In this study, we isolated two endophytic fungi, Trametes hirsuta RR1 and Talaromyces pinophilus RR2 from healthy rice roots. The VOCs mixtures produced by strains RR1 and RR2 were both able to promote rice growth when these strains were co-cultured with rice seedlings. Specifically, strain RR1 and RR2 increased rice shoot fresh weight by 44.22% and 26.69%, root fresh weight by 58.24% and 41.76%, shoot length by 30.35% and 25.07%, and root length by 29.11% and 4.23%, respectively. They significantly enhanced the contents of chlorophyll a and carotenoids, which increased by 18.61% and 17.04%, and by 18.73% and 31.55%, respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to analyze the VOCs emitted by the two strains. The analysis successfully identified a total of 13 major compounds. Among them, at appropriate concentrations, 1-pentanol, methyl DL-2-methylbutyrate, ethylbenzene, 2-ethyl-p-xylene, ethyl benzoate and dimethyl phthalate, can promote rice growth and alter the contents of photosynthetic pigments and hydrogen peroxide to varying degrees. This study provides an important basis for the in-depth research and development of biofumigants for promoting crop growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Soil–Microbes: A Tripartite Interaction for Better Soil Quality and Crop Growth)
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