Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 124-130 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 124 Invited Review Open Access Strategic Engineering of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) for Optimizing Plant Health and Yield in Agriculture Wenfei Zhang Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, Hainan, China Corresponding email: wenfei2007@163.com Molecular Microbiology Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.3 doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0014 Received: 20 Mar., 2024 Accepted: 08 May, 2024 Published: 23 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhang, 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: Zhang W.F., 2024, Strategic engineering of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) for optimizing plant health and yield in agriculture, Molecular Microbiology Research, 14(3): 124-130 (doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0014) Abstract This comprehensive review encapsulates the current state of research on Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) and their burgeoning role in agriculture. The paper aims to elucidate the conceptual framework and developmental milestones of SynComs, tracing their historical evolution from mere scientific inquiry to pivotal agricultural assets. By delving into the synthesis of current literature, this review presents an analytical digest of the advancements in SynCom development, their applications in enhancing plant health, and their integration with existing agricultural practices. The engineered microbial consortia are highlighted for their precise functionality, such as biofilm formation, secondary metabolite production, and induction of plant resistance, structured by ecological theories and phylogenetic organization. The document reviews evidence demonstrating the efficacy of SynComs in bolstering crop resilience, especially under challenging environmental conditions, with case studies exemplifying the protection of wheat against soilborne pathogens and the improvement of soybean yield. Furthermore, it explores the potential of SynCom integration with traditional breeding techniques and plant cultivation management, suggesting that SynComs can complement breeding programs and provide sustainable solutions to biotic stresses. The review concludes by underscoring the promise of SynComs in sustainable agriculture and proposing future research directions that address challenges in microbial colonization, stability, and the harmonization of SynComs with traditional farming methods. This work serves as a cornerstone for developing a new paradigm in precision agriculture where SynComs play a crucial role in crop management for enhanced productivity. Keywords Synthetic microbial communities; Plant health; Agricultural productivity; Microbial engineering; Crop resilience; Plant-microbe interactions; Precision agriculture; Sustainable farming practices 1 Introduction In recent years, the agricultural sector has witnessed a surge in interest toward a more sustainable and resilient approach to crop production and plant health management (Fang, 2024). One of the most promising frontiers in this quest is the exploration and application of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs), which hold the potential to revolutionize the way we support plant growth and combat agricultural challenges. SynComs are engineered communities of microorganisms specifically designed to provide beneficial effects to plants, such as enhanced nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and stress tolerance (Marín et al., 2021). The significance of SynComs lies in their ability to mimic and enhance the natural plant-microbe interactions that are critical for plant health and soil fertility (Martins et al., 2023). By understanding and harnessing these relationships, SynComs can be strategically applied to improve agricultural productivity in a manner that is in harmony with the environment (Gopal and Gupta, 2016). This review aims to consolidate the current body of research regarding the development and application of SynComs with a focus on enhancing plant health and agricultural productivity. Our objectives are multifold and we intend to gain a deep understanding of the concept and historical development of SynComs, provide a
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