The role of soil microbiology in soil health

Authors: Veum, Kristen

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Microbial diversity in the rhizosphere is enormous. The complex plant-associated microbial community, or second genome of the plant, is crucial for plant health and soil function. Microbes are active in decomposition, release mineralizable nutrients, synthesize plant growth regulators, degrade/inactivate synthetic chemicals, and produce metabolites like antibiotics, lytic agents, enzymes and/or volatile compounds. In turn, plants are able to shape their rhizosphere microbiome and host specific microbial communities by communicating with and recruiting protective and helpful microorganisms. Microbes also interact with each other through competition and predation and communicate with each other through a process called quorum sensing. However, current knowledge of plant-microbe interactions is incomplete, and we do not understand all of the mechanisms or implications.