Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture
Root exudates (REs), the secretory carbonaceous metabolites from plant roots play a crucial role in belowground ecosystem dynamics in response to biogeochemical shifts. An intricate pool of primary and secondary metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, peptides, carbohydrates, phenolics, an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Plant Stress |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001757 |
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| author | Ajay M. Sorty Enoch N. Kudjordjie Kamlesh K. Meena Mogens Nicolaisen Peter Stougaard |
| author_facet | Ajay M. Sorty Enoch N. Kudjordjie Kamlesh K. Meena Mogens Nicolaisen Peter Stougaard |
| author_sort | Ajay M. Sorty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Root exudates (REs), the secretory carbonaceous metabolites from plant roots play a crucial role in belowground ecosystem dynamics in response to biogeochemical shifts. An intricate pool of primary and secondary metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, peptides, carbohydrates, phenolics, and hormones make REs key influencers of belowground chemical ecology. Their profiles are vulnerable to abiotic and biotic stress, thus potentially hindering beneficial interactions due to stress-induced dysbiosis.As sensitive molecular markers of plant influence on belowground ecosystem functions, REs have significant implications for agro-industrial productivity. Typically, REs mediate critical biotic and abiotic processes, shaping interactions with multiple life forms including soil microbes, insects, and neighboring plants. Understanding these multi-kingdom crosstalks can enhance cropping practices and strengthen resilient agricultural systems under changing climate. This review updates the current knowledge on REs, covering their chemical and ecological roles, and systems-level functions across environmental contexts. Further, strategic applications of RE-based interactions in agroecology and soil health, potential benefits and challenges are also discussed. The emerging science of REs offers new possibilities for chemical ecology-driven innovations in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0f91c49f83647efb22ac6af19497d05 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-064X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Stress |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0f91c49f83647efb22ac6af19497d052025-08-23T04:49:23ZengElsevierPlant Stress2667-064X2025-09-011710090710.1016/j.stress.2025.100907Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agricultureAjay M. Sorty0Enoch N. Kudjordjie1Kamlesh K. Meena2Mogens Nicolaisen3Peter Stougaard4Department of Environmental Science - Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Roskilde 4000 Denmark; Corresponding authors.Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, DK, 4200 Slagelse, DenmarkDivision of Integrated Farming Systems, ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342003 RJ IndiaDepartment of Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, DK, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark; Corresponding authors.Department of Environmental Science - Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Roskilde 4000 Denmark; Corresponding authors.Root exudates (REs), the secretory carbonaceous metabolites from plant roots play a crucial role in belowground ecosystem dynamics in response to biogeochemical shifts. An intricate pool of primary and secondary metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, peptides, carbohydrates, phenolics, and hormones make REs key influencers of belowground chemical ecology. Their profiles are vulnerable to abiotic and biotic stress, thus potentially hindering beneficial interactions due to stress-induced dysbiosis.As sensitive molecular markers of plant influence on belowground ecosystem functions, REs have significant implications for agro-industrial productivity. Typically, REs mediate critical biotic and abiotic processes, shaping interactions with multiple life forms including soil microbes, insects, and neighboring plants. Understanding these multi-kingdom crosstalks can enhance cropping practices and strengthen resilient agricultural systems under changing climate. This review updates the current knowledge on REs, covering their chemical and ecological roles, and systems-level functions across environmental contexts. Further, strategic applications of RE-based interactions in agroecology and soil health, potential benefits and challenges are also discussed. The emerging science of REs offers new possibilities for chemical ecology-driven innovations in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001757Plant root exudatesinterkingdom crosstalksmicrobial assemblagecarbon channelsoil healthsystems-level interactions |
| spellingShingle | Ajay M. Sorty Enoch N. Kudjordjie Kamlesh K. Meena Mogens Nicolaisen Peter Stougaard Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture Plant Stress Plant root exudates interkingdom crosstalks microbial assemblage carbon channel soil health systems-level interactions |
| title | Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture |
| title_full | Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture |
| title_fullStr | Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture |
| title_short | Plant root exudates: Advances in belowground signaling networks, resilience, and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture |
| title_sort | plant root exudates advances in belowground signaling networks resilience and ecosystem functioning for sustainable agriculture |
| topic | Plant root exudates interkingdom crosstalks microbial assemblage carbon channel soil health systems-level interactions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X25001757 |
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