Microbial secondary metabolites for plant growth regulation and stress management

Biotic and abiotic stresses are major limiting factors for crop growth and productivity. Crops are simultaneously exposed to phytopathogens as well as several abiotic stresses, which pose a serious threat for crop production and food security, especially in the current climate change scenario. Among all the available technological tools and agricultural approaches, a promising alternative to enhance plant yield and stress resilience is the application of secondary metabolites derived from agriculturally important microorganisms (AIMs). Nonetheless, the potential of using microbial secondary metabolites remains vastly unexplored.

BMC Microbiology presents the Collection Microbial secondary metabolites for plant growth regulation and stress management to bring together research on secondary metabolites biosynthesized by rhizospheric, phyllospheric and endophytic AIMs, and their role in mitigating biotic and abiotic stress and improving plant growth under challenging environmental conditions. This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and highlights research that explores the biosynthesis and applications of microbial secondary metabolites for plant growth regulation and stress management, the genomic basis of microbial metabolic diversity, metabolomic profiling of secondary metabolites, de novo synthesis of microbial secondary metabolites, and biosafety issues. We invited researchers and experts in the field to submit research articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Applications of microbial secondary metabolites for plant growth regulation and stress management

Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites by agriculturally important microorganisms (AIMs)

De novo synthesis and engineering of microbial secondary metabolites to enhance plant growth and stress resilience

Metabolomic profiling of microbial secondary metabolites

Plant-microbe interactions and symbiotic interactions for plant growth regulation and stress management

The role and effects of microbial secondary metabolites in shaping the composition and function of plant microbiomes

Antibiosis and microbial competition, with implications for plant growth regulation and stress management

Role of plant microbes for systemic acquired resistance and induced systemic resistance

The role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) for plant stress resilience

PGPM-derived phytohormones

Rhizosphere engineering

Rhizodeposition

Root exudates

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Phytopathogens and pathogen effectors

Seed priming with microbial bioinoculants

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.