Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 31-38 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 37 5 Concluding Remarks The research on synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing crop resilience and productivity. Key findings indicate that SynComs can be tailored to possess traits for robust colonization and specific beneficial functions for plants, leveraging computational methods such as machine learning to optimize microbial combinations. Additionally, the development of reproducible and tunable SynComs has provided new insights into microbial ecology, enabling the study of plant-microbe interactions under controlled conditions. The integration of phototrophic and heterotrophic microbes has shown promise in creating sustainable growth environments, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate microbial partners. The application of SynComs in agriculture holds significant implications for sustainable farming practices. By enhancing plant growth, nutrient use efficiency, and stress tolerance, SynComs can reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby minimizing environmental impact. The ability to design microbial communities that can adapt to various environmental conditions ensures that crops remain resilient against climate change and other stressors. Furthermore, the use of SynComs can lead to more efficient resource use, promoting sustainable agricultural practices that are essential for feeding a growing global population. Future research should focus on developing standardized model systems for SynComs, including comprehensive microbial culture collections and reference genomes. It is crucial to elucidate the functional mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions and define core microbiomes to enhance the predictability and stability of SynComs in field conditions. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, industry, and farmers is essential to translate laboratory findings into practical agricultural applications. Implementing advanced computational tools and optimization algorithms will further refine the design and functionality of SynComs, ensuring their effectiveness in diverse agricultural settings. 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 Berg G., 2009, Plant-microbe interactions promoting plant growth and health: perspectives for controlled use of microorganisms in agriculture, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 84: 11-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2092-7. Choudhary R., and Mahadevan R., 2022, Increasing evenness and stability in synthetic microbial consortia, bioRxiv, 493411: 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.25.493411. 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(6): e00951-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00951-22. 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. Karkaria B., Fedorec A., and Barnes C., 2021, Automated design of synthetic microbial communities, Nature Communications, 12: 672. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20756-2. Ke J., Wang B., and Yoshikuni Y., 2020, Microbiome engineering: synthetic biology of plant-associated microbiomes in sustainable agriculture, Trends in Biotechnology, 39(3): 244-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.07.008. Liang Y., Ma A., and Zhuang G., 2022, Construction of environmental synthetic microbial consortia: based on engineering and ecological principles, Frontiers in Microbiology, 13: 829717. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.829717. Liu Y., Qin Y., and Bai Y., 2019, Reductionist synthetic community approaches in root microbiome research, Current Opinion in Microbiology, 49: 97-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.010. Martins S., Pasche J., Silva H., Selten G., Savastano N., Abreu L., Bais H., Garrett K., Kraisitudomsook N., Pieterse C., and Cernava T., 2023, The use of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) to improve plant health, Phytopathology, 113(8): 16. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-23-0016-IA.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==