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Research on Plant-Microbe Interactions

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2026) | Viewed by 3330

Editor


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Guest Editor
Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 102300, China
Interests: plant beneficial microbe; root colonization; plant-microbe interactions; root microbiome; plant tolerance to biotic stress; induced systemic resistance (ISR); plant signal transduction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant–microbe interactions refer to the complex relationships between plants and microorganisms in their environment, which can be beneficial, neutral, or pathogenic. These interactions are mediated by a variety of molecular signals, including plant-derived compounds, microbial metabolites, and cell-to-cell communication mechanisms. Plant-associated microbes and microbiome in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere have drawn much attention due to their critical roles in plant growth and health. Some bacteria and fungi are capable of improving ecological environment, enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses, and are showing great potential in sustainable agricultural and forestry production. Effective colonization is the key for plant-associated microbes and microbiome to exert their functions.

Plant–microbe interactions play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, influencing soil health, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity, enhancing the environmental adaptability of plants and plant health. However, signals and mechanisms are still unclear. This Special Issue aims at better understanding the roles of plant-associated microbes and microbiome on plant growth and health, communications between microbes, and the signals and mechanisms of plant–microbe interactions under different environments.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and short communications on plant–microbe interactions are welcome.

Dr. Lin Chen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • beneficial microbes
  • rhizosphere
  • phyllosphere
  • endosphere
  • colonization
  • microbiome
  • root exudates
  • communication
  • secondary metabolites
  • plant immunity
  • environmental stress
  • resistance to plant disease

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 4237 KB  
Article
Strain-Specific Phosphate Mobilization in Enterobacter: Organic Acid Production and Genomic Architecture of Solubilization Mechanisms
by Ekaterina Alexeevna Sokolova, Inna Viktorovna Khlistun, Olga Viktorovna Mishukova, Irina Nikolaevna Tromenschleger, Evgeniya Vladimirovna Chumanova and Elena Nikolaevna Voronina
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010322 - 27 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1034
Abstract
Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) show promise for sustainable agriculture, yet inconsistent field performance limits their application. We investigated phosphate solubilization mechanisms in Enterobacter ludwigii strains GMG278, GMG291, GMG378 and Enterobacter soli GMG1156 through greenhouse wheat experiments, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) organic acid analysis, and [...] Read more.
Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) show promise for sustainable agriculture, yet inconsistent field performance limits their application. We investigated phosphate solubilization mechanisms in Enterobacter ludwigii strains GMG278, GMG291, GMG378 and Enterobacter soli GMG1156 through greenhouse wheat experiments, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) organic acid analysis, and comparative genomics. Greenhouse trials demonstrated that bacterial inoculation compensated for phosphorus deficiency, with GMG291, GMG1156, and GMG278 showing superior performance. HPLC identified malic acid as the predominant secreted organic acid, with E. soli producing threefold higher concentrations than E. ludwigii strains. Phosphate solubilization efficiency followed the order FePO4 > AlPO4 > Ca3(PO4)2, with maximal release (95.9–97.7 μg/mL) from iron phosphate despite lower malic acid secretion, suggesting siderophore involvement. An inverse correlation between malic acid levels and soluble phosphate concentrations likely reflects competitive bacterial phosphate uptake and secondary precipitation processes. Comparative genomics revealed missense mutations in the LuxR transcriptional regulator of strain GMG378 (Asp86Asn and Arg97Leu) near predicted DNA-binding domains, correlating with reduced solubilization capacity. Phosphate solubilization in Enterobacter proceeds primarily through metal–malic acid complex formation, with strain-specific efficiency linked to LuxR-regulated biofilm formation genes. These findings suggest PSM screening should incorporate biofilm-related genetic markers alongside acid production measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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14 pages, 5047 KB  
Article
LXG Toxins of Bacillus Velezensis Mediate Contact-Dependent Inhibition in a T7SS-Dependent Manner to Enhance Rhizosphere Adaptability
by Xia Shu, Xiting Sun, Kesu Wang, Yan Duan, Yunpeng Liu and Ruifu Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(6), 2592; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26062592 - 13 Mar 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1644
Abstract
Rhizosphere bacteria always compete intensely for ecological niches, employing various strategies to inhibit the growth of microbial competitors. One such strategy, contact-dependent inhibition (CDI), involves the direct delivery of toxic proteins into competing neighboring bacteria by a secretion system, leading to the inhibition [...] Read more.
Rhizosphere bacteria always compete intensely for ecological niches, employing various strategies to inhibit the growth of microbial competitors. One such strategy, contact-dependent inhibition (CDI), involves the direct delivery of toxic proteins into competing neighboring bacteria by a secretion system, leading to the inhibition of their growth. However, the ecological function of CDI competition in the natural environment remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of the type VII secretion system (T7SS) substrate LXG domain-containing protein in the rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9 and found that SQR9 encodes LXG toxins mediate contact-dependent inhibition against other Bacillus strains in biofilms. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the expression of these lxg genes is induced by root exudates and positively correlates with that of the T7SS gene cluster. We further confirmed that the survival of the mutants deficient of the LXG toxins was significantly decreased in natural soil. These findings highlight the critical role of T7SS and its substrate LXG toxins in competition of Bacillus species in the rhizosphere, providing new insights into the ecological importance of CDI in natural environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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