Genomic Perspective of Rhizoengineering for Sustainable Agricultural Systems

The specific biomanagement of root-associated microbial communities, referred to as rhizoengineering, is a growing technique that aims to improve plant yield and resilience in sustainable agriculture. The advancement of high-throughput sequencing and omics technologies has provided new insights into the genomic perspective of rhizosphere microbiomes. This chapter discusses how genomic techniques, such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and genome editing, can be used to untangle microbial diversity, recognize key functional genes, and manipulate valuable plant-microbe interactions. In particular, focus is placed on the delineation of core optimizations for PGPR, alteration of root exudates, and design of synthetic consortia for target crops personalized to particular environmental conditions. Additionally, issues concerning certainty and stability, along with regulatory concerns about real-world applications within agricultural settings, are critically analyzed from the perspective of rhizoengineered systems. Coupling genomics with systems biology and precision agriculture enables a scenario in which rhizoengineering can be employed as a centerpiece in next-generation approaches for sustainable farming.