Bioscience Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 44-55 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 47 pathogens are measured. Advanced techniques like RNA sequencing and real-time phenotyping platforms are used to monitor plant responses and microbial colonization (Armanhi et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021). 4.2 Key field trials conducted on SynComs for climate-resilient agriculture Several significant field trials have been conducted to evaluate the performance of SynComs in promoting climate-resilient agriculture: Soybean field trials: In a study, three SynComs were constructed from 1893 microbial strains isolated from soybean roots. These SynComs significantly enhanced plant growth and nutrient acquisition under both nutrient-deficient and sufficient conditions. Field trials showed that SynComs increased soybean yield by up to 36.1% at two different sites (Wang et al., 2021). Wheat field trials: Ten SynComs derived from wheat rhizosphere bacteria were tested for their ability to protect wheat against the soilborne fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG8. Seven SynComs successfully reduced root rot disease, although they were not more effective than single strains in some cases (Yin et al., 2022). Maize field trials: A SynCom containing plant-beneficial bacteria was tested on three commercial maize hybrids under drought stress conditions. The SynCom inoculation reduced yield loss, modulated physiological traits, and improved water usage efficiency. The high-resolution temporal data collected revealed the SynCom's impact on maize resilience to drought (Armanhi et al., 2021). 4.3 Parameters and metrics used for evaluating field trial performance The performance of SynComs in field trials is evaluated using a variety of parameters and metrics: Plant growth and yield: Measurements include plant height, biomass, and crop yield. These metrics provide direct evidence of the SynCom's impact on plant productivity (Armanhi et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021). Nutrient uptake: The efficiency of nutrient acquisition, particularly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), is assessed through soil and plant tissue analyses. Enhanced nutrient uptake indicates improved plant health and growth (Wang et al., 2021). Disease resistance: The incidence and severity of diseases, particularly those caused by soilborne pathogens, are monitored. The effectiveness of SynComs in suppressing disease is a critical metric for evaluating their potential as biocontrol agents (Yin et al., 2022). Physiological traits: Parameters such as leaf temperature, turgor pressure, and sap flow are measured to assess plant physiological responses to environmental stressors. These traits help in understanding the mechanisms through which SynComs confer stress resilience (Armanhi et al., 2021). Microbial colonization: The persistence and colonization efficiency of SynComs in the plant rhizosphere are evaluated using microbiome profiling techniques. Stable colonization is essential for the long-term effectiveness of SynComs (Armanhi et al., 2021). By systematically evaluating these parameters, researchers can determine the potential of engineered SynComs to enhance crop resilience and productivity under climate stress conditions. 5 Performance Evaluation of SynComs 5.1 Criteria for performance evaluation The performance of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) in agriculture can be evaluated using several key criteria: Crop yield: One of the primary metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of SynComs is the increase in crop yield. This includes measuring the quantity and quality of the produce harvested from plants treated with SynComs compared to control groups (Bailey-Serres et al., 2019; Souza et al., 2020; Sai et al., 2022).
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