PJB-2025-1524
Microbiome and plant metabolites in ecosystem restoration
Asma Ayaz, Wajid Zaman, Saddam Saqib, Fazal Ullah, Wajid Khan, Yufei Fang and Yaodong Gu
Abstract
Plant-microbiome interactions play a crucial role in ecosystem restoration, offering a natural and effective means to restore soil health, promote biodiversity, and enhance resilience in degraded landscapes. This article explores the functions and ecological contributions of plant metabolites and soil microbiomes in supporting key restoration processes, such as stress tolerance, nutrient cycling, and pathogen defense. Plant metabolites, including primary and secondary compounds like flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolics, act as biochemical signals that attract beneficial microbes and deter pathogens, establishing a dynamic exchange that enhances soil fertility and microbial diversity. Soil microbiomes, in turn, support plant growth by transforming nutrients into bioavailable forms, improving root structure, and enabling plants to withstand environmental stressors like drought and salinity. Advanced technologies, including genomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology, offer new insights into these complex plant-microbe relationships, allowing for targeted restoration strategies that optimize nutrient cycling and ecosystem resilience. However, challenges remain, such as the high costs of omics technologies, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ecological considerations of using genetically modified organisms in natural environments. By integrating advanced scientific tools with ecological principles, restoration efforts can harness plant-microbiome synergy to create self-sustaining, resilient ecosystems capable of adapting to future environmental changes. This study highlights the potential of plant-microbiome interactions as a foundation for sustainable ecosystem restoration, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to foster innovation and long-term ecological stability.
To Cite this article:
Ayaz, A., W. Zaman, S. Saqib, F. Ullah, W. Khan, Y. Fang and Y. Gu. 2025. Microbiome and plant metabolites in ecosystem restoration. Pak. J. Bot., 57(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2025-3(15)
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