ABSTRACT
Rigorous study has been carried out to understand the interactions between plants-microbes-metals. Our understanding of these interactions is incomplete due to the difficulty of studying these complex processes under controlled yet natural conditions. Thus, developing novel methodologies to study these interactions under natural conditions is crucial. Joint efforts of scientists working in areas of plant biology, microbial ecology, and pedology need to develop systems where careful analysis could be performed on-site to understand the minute details of interactions between plants and microbes. It is now well understood that roots are rhizospheric mediators facilitating communication between the plant and microorganisms in the soil. Ecological knowledge supports ‘above-ground’ interactions that could potentially be used to understand ‘below-ground’ interactions between plants and microbes. An understanding of the molecular process involved in the actual secretion of molecules by roots is de rigueur in order to develop molecular markers for this process. Finally, improvement of the knowledge of the key factors affecting the interactions between microbes, plants and metals, from the molecular to the ecosystem level can systematically lead to the scientific development of better plants capable of absorbing more nutrients, detoxifying soils with better efficiency, or eliminating invasive weeds and pathogens effectively.
