Rhizosphere signaling cascades: fundamentals and determinants

Abstract

Molecular interactions among the plants and microbes represent an important microecological phenomenon. The cross talk involves multiple ecological aspects like exchange of metabolites, signaling and chemotaxis, etc. These bilateral interactions are crucial for the health and development of both the plant and colonizing microbes. The signal molecules play major role as inducers of different pathways that contribute indispensable role for the survival of the participants under adverse circumstances and development of symbiotic associations as well. Though the recent high-throughput techniques have generated considerable data regarding the molecular exchanges happening in the rhizosphere microbes and the host, our current knowledge in this area is still in infancy. It is thus critical to get deeper insights of such interactions so as to develop next-generation strategies relating to the sustainable agriculture under the changing climate scenario. We describe herewith the major aspects concerning the contributors and their role in rhizosphere signaling cascades and the consequent post-signaling responses given by the host and the colonizing microbes.