Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 31-38 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 32 Shayanthan et al., 2022). The use of SynComs represents a paradigm shift in agricultural microbiome research, moving from single-microbe applications to a more holistic approach that leverages the synergistic interactions within microbial communities (Ray et al., 2020). The primary objective of this systematic review is to explore the design, functionality, and field performance of synthetic microbial communities in the context of sustainable agriculture. The review aims to address the following research questions: 1) What are the current strategies and methodologies for designing synthetic microbial communities for agricultural applications? 2) How do synthetic microbial communities enhance plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress resilience compared to traditional microbial inoculants? 3) What are the challenges and limitations associated with the field application of synthetic microbial communities? 4) How can synthetic microbial communities be optimized for different crops, soil types, and environmental conditions to ensure consistent performance and sustainability? By systematically reviewing the existing literature, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential of synthetic microbial communities in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and to identify future research directions in this emerging field. 1 Design of Synthetic Microbial Communities 1.1 Principles of microbial community design 1.1.1 Criteria for selecting microbial strains The selection of microbial strains for synthetic communities is crucial for ensuring the desired functionality and stability of the community. Criteria for selection include the ability of strains to robustly colonize the plant environment, their prevalence throughout plant development, and their specific beneficial functions for plants, such as enhancing crop resiliency under stressful conditions (Souza et al., 2020). Additionally, the compatibility of strains in terms of metabolic exchanges and the ability to form stable interactions are important considerations (Zuñiga et al., 2020; Karkaria et al., 2021). 1.1.2 Genetic engineering and synthetic biology approaches Advances in synthetic biology and genetic engineering have enabled the design of microbes with defined and controllable properties, facilitating the creation of multispecies communities with specific functions. Techniques such as quorum sensing and the engineering of metabolic pathways are employed to control intercellular interactions and ensure the robustness and stability of the community (Johns et al., 2016; Karkaria et al., 2021). The use of computational models to predict and optimize these interactions is also a key component of the design process (Thommes et al., 2018; Zuñiga et al., 2020). 1.2 Tools and techniques for community assembly 1.2.1 Co-culture and co-evolution methods Co-culture methods involve growing multiple microbial strains together under controlled conditions to promote beneficial interactions and co-evolution. This approach can help in identifying and selecting strains that work well together and can sustain each other’s growth through metabolic exchanges (Zuñiga et al., 2020; Liang et al., 2022). Co-evolution methods further refine these interactions by allowing the community to adapt over time, enhancing its stability and functionality (Zomorrodi and Segrè, 2016). 1.2.2 Computational modeling and simulation Computational tools play a significant role in the design and optimization of synthetic microbial communities. Techniques such as Bayesian methods, mixed-integer linear programming, and advanced optimization algorithms
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