Microbial Metabolism in Plant Physiology

Dear Colleagues,

Microorganisms are the oldest organisms and the most abundant on earth. They are ubiquitous in the world around us, and if a nuclear winter or natural event were to occur that would wipe out a large portion of living organisms, they would probably be among the best equipped to restart an evolutionary process.

Today, part of our life is conditioned not only by the pathogenic microorganisms of man, animals and plants, but also by the saprophytic or symbiotic bacteria and fungi whose activity improves, or even allows, the growth of plants, the recycling of organic matter, the destruction and recycling of waste and pollutants, etc., without forgetting those used for the production of important metabolites and for agri-food transformations.

Terrestrial and aquatic plants are colonized by various microorganisms, collectively referred to as the microbiota, and these interact with their host throughout its life cycle as they have an impact on its physiological status. The key role of these associated microorganisms in plant development has actually led to plants and their microbiota being considered as a single entity: a holobiont. Most of these host–microbial interactions are governed by dynamic and multipartite chemical communications involving the production of specialized metabolites. Thus, microbe–plant interactions have led to several parasitic, mutualistic and/or associative symbioses that involve chemical communications through a complex molecular dialog driving the life of the holobiont. Although the deciphering of this chemical dialogue is still in its infancy, there is increasing evidence that associated microorganisms produce numerous original metabolites endowed with powerful biological activities that may affect the host physiology. In addition, the field of chemical ecology is currently benefitting from new tools in chemical analyses and molecular biology that greatly improve the deciphering of chemical-caused microbial influences on plant physiology.

This Special Issue of Metabolites calls for original research articles, reviews, or opinions that will contribute to our understanding of fundamental and applied research related to the nature, ecological and biological roles of microbial metabolites in plant physiology.

Prof. Soizic Prado
Prof. Dr. Gilles Comte
Guest Editors

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• plant
• microbiota
• specialized metabolites
• chemical ecology
• omics