New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 3, 2025
Use
of
synthetic
microbial
communities
(SynComs)
is
a
promising
approach
that
harnesses
nature-based
solutions
to
support
soil
fertility
and
food
security,
mitigate
climate
change
impacts,
restore
terrestrial
ecosystems.
Several
products
are
in
the
market,
many
others
at
different
stages
development
commercialization.
Yet,
we
still
far
from
being
able
fully
harness
potential
successful
applications
such
biotechnological
tools.
The
limited
field
efficiency
efficacy
SynComs
have
significantly
constrained
commercial
opportunities,
resulting
market
growth
falling
below
expectations.
To
overcome
these
challenges
manage
expectations,
it
critical
address
current
limitations,
failures,
environmental
consequences
SynComs.
In
this
Viewpoint,
explore
how
using
multiple
eco-evolutionary
theories
can
inform
SynCom
design
success.
We
further
discuss
status
identify
next
steps
needed
develop
deploy
next-generation
tools
boost
their
ability
ecosystem
services,
including
security
sustainability.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 5, 2024
Summary
The
plant
microbiota
research
field
has
rapidly
shifted
from
efforts
aimed
at
gaining
a
descriptive
understanding
of
composition
to
focus
on
acquiring
mechanistic
insights
into
functions
and
assembly
rules.
This
evolution
was
driven
by
our
ability
establish
comprehensive
collections
plant‐associated
microbes
reconstruct
meaningful
microbial
synthetic
communities
(SynComs).
We
argue
that
this
powerful
deconstruction–reconstruction
strategy
can
be
used
reconstitute
increasingly
complex
ecosystems
(SynEcos)
mechanistically
understand
high‐level
biological
organization.
transitioning
simple
more
advanced,
fully
tractable
programmable
gnotobiotic
SynEcos
is
ongoing
aims
rationally
simplifying
natural
engineering
them.
Such
reconstitution
ecology
approaches
represent
an
untapped
for
bridging
the
gap
between
functional
biology
unraveling
plant–microbiota–environment
mechanisms
modulate
ecosystem
health,
assembly,
functioning.
Microbial Biotechnology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
17(10)
Published: Oct. 1, 2024
Abstract
Plant
health
is
crucial
for
maintaining
the
well‐being
of
humans,
animals
and
environment.
pathogens
pose
significant
challenges
to
agricultural
production,
global
food
security
ecosystem
biodiversity.
This
problem
exacerbated
by
impact
climate
change,
which
expected
alter
emergence
evolution
plant
their
interaction
with
hosts.
Traditional
approaches
managing
phytopathogens
involved
use
chemical
pesticides,
but
alternative
strategies
are
needed
address
ongoing
decline
in
performance
as
well
negative
on
environment
public
health.
Here,
we
highlight
advancement
effectiveness
biocontrol
based
antimicrobial‐producing
plant‐associated
bacteria,
anti‐virulence
therapy
(e.g.
quorum
quenching)
microbiome
engineering
sustainable
biotechnological
promote
foster
agriculture.
Notably,
Enterobacterales
emerging
important
agents
a
source
new
antimicrobials
potential
use.
We
analysed
here
genomes
over
250
enterobacteria
examine
synthesize
secondary
metabolites.
Exploration
major
interest
search
eco‐friendly
alternatives
reducing
pesticides.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 3, 2025
Use
of
synthetic
microbial
communities
(SynComs)
is
a
promising
approach
that
harnesses
nature-based
solutions
to
support
soil
fertility
and
food
security,
mitigate
climate
change
impacts,
restore
terrestrial
ecosystems.
Several
products
are
in
the
market,
many
others
at
different
stages
development
commercialization.
Yet,
we
still
far
from
being
able
fully
harness
potential
successful
applications
such
biotechnological
tools.
The
limited
field
efficiency
efficacy
SynComs
have
significantly
constrained
commercial
opportunities,
resulting
market
growth
falling
below
expectations.
To
overcome
these
challenges
manage
expectations,
it
critical
address
current
limitations,
failures,
environmental
consequences
SynComs.
In
this
Viewpoint,
explore
how
using
multiple
eco-evolutionary
theories
can
inform
SynCom
design
success.
We
further
discuss
status
identify
next
steps
needed
develop
deploy
next-generation
tools
boost
their
ability
ecosystem
services,
including
security
sustainability.
