Impacts of Climate Changes on Plant-Beneficial Microorganism Interactions

Abstract

Global climate is estimated to change drastically over the next century and the ecosystems will be affected in this changing environment. Plant-associated beneficial microorganisms can stimulate plant growth and increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Nowadays, the effects of climate change factors such as increased carbon dioxide (CO2), drought and warming on plant-beneficial microorganism interactions are increasingly being investigated in the scope of plant growth and health. Recent studies have shown that high CO2 level has a positive effect on the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi, whereas the effects on plant growth promoting bacteria and endophytic fungi are more variable. Elevated CO2 conditions lead to increased colonization of beneficial fungi. Additionally, the results of increasing CO2 levels, warming and drought, depend upon the plant and the microbial genotype. Also, plant growth promoting microorganisms, especially bacteria, positively affect plants exposed to drought stress. Altered communities of beneficial microorganisms depending on climate changes, might have to compete with different microbial communities and, therefore microbial activities may also get affected. This work presents that climate change is an important factor affecting microorganism and plant interactions, needs to take into consideration the adaptation processes in plants and microorganisms and might require the selection of adapted plant cultivars.