Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 241-254 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 241 Meta Analysis Open Access Root-Soil Interactions Affecting Maize Growth Delong Wang Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: delong.wang@hitar.org Molecular Soil Biology, 2025, Vol.16, No.5 doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0022 Received: 28 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 03 Sep., 2025 Published: 18 Sep., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wang D.L., 2025, Root-soil interactions affecting maize growth, Molecular Soil Biology, 16(5): 241-254 (doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0022) Abstract The relationship between the roots of corn and the soil is of great significance to the growth, nutrient absorption and stress resistance of the crop. Many studies have shown that the morphology of roots, their secretions, and their interactions with the soil environment and microorganisms can affect corn's utilization efficiency of key resources such as water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as its yield. Root secretions not only improve the environment around the roots but also attract beneficial microorganisms, assist in nutrient cycling, and make the soil healthier. Some agricultural practices, such as precise fertilization, adding soil conditioners, and cultivating varieties with better root systems, can also enhance the "root-soil interaction" effect, thereby improving the stress resistance and resource utilization rate of corn. In the future, if high-throughput phenotypic technology of root systems, soil science, microbiomics and agronomy are combined, it will be able to provide more assistance in cultivating high-yield, stress-resistant and sustainable corn varieties and planting methods. A thorough understanding and application of root-soil interaction are of vital importance for food security and sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this study is to summarize and analyze these aspects to provide references for subsequent corn improvement and agricultural management. Keywords Corn; Root-soil interaction; Root phenotype; Soil microorganisms; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important food crops in the world. It is not only the main food source for humans and animals, but also the main raw material for industry and bioenergy. The yield and quality of corn directly affect global food security and sustainable agricultural development. In recent years, with the increase in population and the intensifying pressure of climate change, how to enhance the production efficiency and resource utilization rate of corn has become an important issue in agricultural research. The root system is an important organ for the exchange of matter and energy between crops and soil. The interaction between roots and soil can affect the absorption of water and nutrients, as well as the microbial community in the rhizosphere, soil structure and physical and chemical properties, etc. These factors, in turn, can have an impact on the growth, development and yield of corn. Root secretions can regulate microbial composition, promote the colonization of beneficial bacterial communities, assist nutrient transformation and enhance stress resistance (Yu et al., 2021; Shi et al., 2024; Luo et al., 2025). The physical structure of soil (such as porosity and compaction), chemical properties (such as pH and nutrient content), and biological activities (such as microbial diversity) jointly affect the rhizosphere environment, directly influencing the growth space and functional performance of crop roots (Lu et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2023; Nassir et al., 2024; Peng et al., 2024; Gao et al., 2025). This study summarizes the latest research progress on the root-soil interaction of maize crops in recent years, mainly focusing on three aspects: physical interaction, chemical interaction and biological interaction. Physical interaction mainly analyzes the influence of soil structure, compactness and water distribution on root growth and function. Chemical interaction explores the relationship among soil nutrient dynamics, pH changes, root secretions and nutrient availability. Biological interaction studies the structure and function of rhizosphere microbial communities, as well as their relationship with root development, nutrient absorption, and stress resistance. By integrating field experiments, greenhouse studies and multi-omics data, this research aims to reveal the mechanism by which root-soil interactions affect the growth and yield of corn, providing theoretical and practical support for efficient and sustainable corn production.
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