Rhizosphere hybridization: Sustaining citrus production via microbiome changes

Abstract

Rhizosphere security has become a pre-requisite to sustain the production by exploiting the microbiome profile of acid lime, and fortifying with microbes via rhizosphere hybridization is one effective way of deciphering the interaction between plants and microbes. The lost photosynthates from plants through root exudates creates a novel environment to harbour a diverse group of microorganisms, as a result, microbes-mediated rhizosphere exerted a diversified role in physiological plant growth and development. These microbes can be altered through various mean such as microbial fortification, soil amendments through various organic sources, rhizosphere engineering, inoculation of genetically engineered microbes to achieve a biased but desirable rhizosphere for  rowth and development of citrus. The biased but desirable changes in plant holobiont will reflect in changes in soil enzymes and plant available nutrients vis-a-vis crop phenology and its horticultural performance in the field. The process of rhizosphere hybridization is purely dependant on the selection of tree species with unique rhizosphere biomass, its activation of growth promoting rhizobacteria and its method of application, which all together makes a unique engineered rhizosphere. However, future studies must be directed towards upscaling the concept to a real field application, with more emphasis on soil-plant health safeguard as continuum.