RESEARCH PROGRESS ON THE REGULATORY MECHANISMS OF RHIZOSPHERE MICROORGANISMS IN ENHANCING PLANT TOLERANCE TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESSES

Abstract

Frequent human activities have led to the increased occurrence of environmental stresses, such as soil salinization, drought, plant diseases, heavy metal pollution, and low temperatures, severely constraining regional natural and socioeconomic development. Due to their sessile growth habit, plants are chronically exposed to multiple stresses. Although they can mount defense responses through physiological and biochemical adaptations, their inherent regulatory capacity remains limited. In recent years, with the advancement of ecological restoration projects, the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in modulating plant stress adaptation has become increasingly prominent. The rhizosphere serves as a critical interface for plant–soil–microbe interactions, where microorganisms regulate plant physiological functions through their metabolic activities, thereby assisting plants in establishing resistance and tolerance mechanisms against both biotic and abiotic stresses. To promote ecological restoration and alleviate human–land conflicts, this paper systematically reviews research progress on how rhizosphere microorganisms enhance plant tolerance to drought, cold, salinity, heavy metals, and diseases. By integrating typical case studies, we comprehensively discuss the underlying mechanisms, aiming to provide a theoretical reference for the application of rhizosphere microorganisms in agricultural development and ecological restoration.