Rhizomicrobiomics

Abstract

Rhizomicrobiomics is the study of plant-associated microbes as a strategy for achieving sustainable development goals. With the development of the concept of microbiomes of soil/plant systems the history leading to this concept over more than a century is reviewed. Microbial growth and community dynamics are discussed from both the laboratory and field perspectives. The first use of the term microbiome applied to biological control of plant diseases, but it now seems appropriate to use the specific term rhizomicrobiome to describe the myriads of microbial functions which influence soil heath, food production, bioremediation, and climate change. The advance and implications of molecular biology and modern imaging, along with functional analysis of ecosystems from space, coupled with artificial intelligence and machine learning, are indicated as ways to investigate the application of rhizomicrobiomics in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals to generate a cleaner planet and secure the future supply of food.