Dysbiotic microbiomes and the collapse of plant health.

Dysbiosis of plant-associated microbiomes is linked to impaired plant health and systemic disruptions, including immunity and nutrient acquisition.

• Why it matters: Understanding plant dysbiosis is crucial because it parallels human gut microbiome disruptions that contribute to host dysfunction, highlighting its significance for crop health and productivity.
• What they did: The study reviews current knowledge of plant dysbiosis through host-microbiome interactions and emerging analytical methods, emphasizing measurement, restoration, and translational strategies involving microbiome-informed breeding, synthetic communities, and soil priming.
• The result: Implementing a three-tiered framework and concepts like functional dysbiosis enables practical crop management, with approaches such as host-genome-informed M-gene selection and microbial community design to enhance plant resilience.