Impact of Plant-Microorganism Interaction: A Key Driver for the Production of Bioactive Metabolites of Interest in the Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, Cosmetic, and Food Industries
摘要
Bioactive compounds are molecules synthesized by living organisms that have beneficial effects on human health. Among them, secondary metabolites (SMs) are produced by plants in response to environmental interactions, acting as a defense against abiotic or biotic stress. Their synthesis is influenced by factors such as temperature, light, nutrient availability, and CO₂, as well as by interactions with endophytic, mycorrhizal, and rhizospheric microorganisms. These plant-microorganism interactions can induce or enhance the production of SMs, including phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phytohormones. Microorganisms not only activate specific metabolic pathways but can also share biosynthetic pathways or act as elicitors. Plants modulate their microbiome through environmental conditions and molecular signals, shaping microbial communities with key roles in growth, stress tolerance, and production of bioactive compounds. These associations represent a promising biotechnological strategy for sustainable pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental applications. This review further explores innovative biotechnological strategies such as co-cultivation systems, synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), omics-based approaches, and genetic engineering to optimize metabolite yield and functionality. Overall, it highlights the potential of harnessing plant-microbe interactions as a sustainable and scalable source of bioactive compounds, contributing to ecosystem resilience and biotechnological innovation.