The soil microbiome is the complete set of microbes that can live in soil ecosystems.
Soil represents the greatest microbial reservoir of biological diversity
more than 30,000 prokaryotic species
presence of soil microbes depends on many environmental factors including geographic location, salinity, temperature, oxygen, nutrients
Plant-microbe interactions
microbes are essential for plant growth and health
soil serves as a major source of plant-associated bacteria
Rhizosphere microbiome consists of all soil microbes that colonize the roots of plants.
Microbes support plant growth and health
microbial colonization of roots is beneficial to plant growth and health
microbes help to absorb nutrient absorption and to protect against pathogens
Plant-specific microbioms
plants are able to control their rhizosphere microbiom by root secretions
different plant species growing on the same soil attract different microbes
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