Odoh Emeka Hyginus1, Eze Constance Nonye2, Jude, Egeonu Vitus3, Hamisu Shuaibu Idris4, Moses Adondua Abah5,6✉, Micheal Oladosu Abimbola6,7 and Ochuele Dominic Agida5,6
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Georgia State University, USA
2Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois United States.
3Department of Microbiology/Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
4Department of Microbiology/Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
5Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
6Research Hub Nexus Institute, Nigeria
7Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State, Nigeria
(✉) Corresponding Author: Moses Adondua abah; m.abah@fuwukari.edu.ng
Received: April 28, 2026/ Revised: May 29, 2026/Accepted: June 2, 2026
Plant–microbe interactions play a fundamental role in maintaining plant health, soil fertility, and agricultural productivity. In recent years, growing environmental concerns associated with excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have intensified interest in sustainable agricultural approaches driven by beneficial microorganisms. This review examines the current understanding of plant–microbe interactions and their emerging significance in sustainable agriculture. It discusses the diversity of plant-associated microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, endophytes, and biocontrol agents, highlighting their roles in nutrient cycling, plant growth enhancement, stress tolerance, and disease suppression. The review further explores the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying these interactions, with emphasis on signaling pathways, phytohormone production, and microbial-mediated resistance responses. Recent advances in genomics, metagenomics, microbiome engineering, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence are also examined as transformative tools for understanding and optimizing plant–microbe systems. In addition, the review evaluates practical applications of microbial technologies in biofertilizers, biostimulants, and sustainable crop management strategies aimed at improving soil health and agricultural resilience under changing climatic conditions. Despite significant progress, challenges such as environmental variability, inconsistent field performance, formulation limitations, and regulatory constraints continue to hinder large-scale adoption. The review concludes by highlighting future research priorities focused on climate-smart agriculture, next-generation microbial consortia, and precision microbiome management. Overall, plant–microbe interactions represent a promising foundation for developing environmentally sustainable, resilient, and productive agricultural systems capable of supporting global food security
Keywords: Plant–microbe interactions, Sustainable agriculture, Rhizosphere microbiome, Biofertilizers, Rhizobacteria and Microbiome
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How to cite this article
Odoh, E. H., Nonye, E. C., Vitus, J. E., Idris, H. S., Abah, M. A., Abimbola, M. O., & Agida, O. D. (2026). Plant-microbe interactions: A review of current research and future directions in sustainable agriculture. Microbial Science Archives, 6(2), 25–37.https://doi.org/10.47587/MSA.2026.6202
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