Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 16-26 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 24 engineering and synthetic biology could enable the creation of tailor-made SynComs with enhanced capabilities for bioremediation, ultimately contributing to sustainable soil management and food security (Johns et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2019). 9 Concluding Remarks The systematic review of the literature on tailoring synthetic microbial communities for the bioremediation of saline-alkali soils has revealed several critical insights. Advances in synthetic biology have enabled the design and programming of multispecies microbial communities with defined and controllable properties, which are crucial for bioremediation applications. The use of organic soil amendments, such as bio-fertilizers and rotten straw, has been shown to significantly alter rhizosphere bacterial communities and improve crop productivity in saline-alkaline environments. Additionally, the study of microbial assemblages in various saline-alkaline soils has highlighted the importance of soluble salt ion components in driving microbial community structure and function, with fungal communities demonstrating higher tolerance and stability compared to bacterial communities. The findings from this review have several implications for policymakers, researchers, and land managers. Policymakers should consider supporting research and development initiatives that focus on the application of synthetic microbial communities for soil bioremediation, as these technologies hold promise for sustainable agricultural practices in saline-alkaline environments. Researchers are encouraged to further investigate the mechanisms by which organic amendments and microbial communities interact to enhance soil health and crop productivity. Land managers can benefit from implementing strategies that utilize tolerant plant cultivars and combined organic amendments to improve soil conditions and increase agricultural yields in saline-alkaline soils. Despite the promising findings, there is a need for further research to fully understand the complex interactions within synthetic microbial communities and their impact on soil bioremediation. Future studies should focus on developing new strategies to control intercellular interactions, spatiotemporal coordination, and the robustness of these communities. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration between synthetic biologists, ecologists, agronomists, and soil scientists is essential to advance the field and translate laboratory findings into field applications. Such collaborative efforts will be crucial in addressing the challenges of soil salinization and alkalization, ultimately contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability. Acknowledgments We would like to express our gratitude to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their critical assessment and constructive suggestions on our manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Arora S., and Vanza M., 2017, Microbial approach for bioremediation of saline and sodic soils, Bioremediation of Salt Affected Soils: An Indian Perspective, 87-100. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48257-6_5 Coker J., Zhalnina K., Marotz C., Thiruppathy D., Tjuanta M., D’Elia G., Hailu R., Mahosky T., Rowan M., Northen T., and Zengler K., 2022, A reproducible and tunable synthetic soil microbial community provides new insights into microbial ecology, mSystems, 7: e00951-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00951-22 Cui Q., Xia J., Yang H., Liu J., and Shao P., 2020, Biochar and effective microorganisms promote Sesbania cannabina growth and soil quality in the coastal saline-alkali soil of the Yellow River Delta, China, The Science of the Total Environment, 756: 143801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143801 Ebadi A., Sima N., Olamaee M., Hashemi M., and Nasrabadi R., 2018, Remediation of saline soils contaminated with crude oil using the halophyte Salicornia persica in conjunction with hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, J. Environ. Manage., 219: 260-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.115 Johns N., Blazejewski T., Gomes A., and Wang H., 2016, Principles for designing synthetic microbial communities, Current Opinion in Microbiology, 31: 146-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2016.03.010
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