The Role of Phosphate-Solubilizing Microbial Interactions in Phosphorus Activation and Utilization in Plant–Soil Systems: A Review

Abstract

To address the issue of phosphorus limitation in agricultural and forestry production and to identify green and economical alternatives to chemical phosphorus fertilizers, this paper reviews the utilization of phosphorus in plant–soil systems and explores the considerable potential for exploiting endogenous phosphorus resources. The application of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) is emphasized for their role in phosphorus activation and plant growth promotion. A focus is placed on microbial interactions as an entry point to regulate the functional rhizosphere microbiome, introducing the concept of synthetic communities. This approach aims to deepen the understanding of PSM interactions across plant root, soil, and microbial interfaces, providing a theoretical foundation for the development and application of biological regulation technologies to enhance phosphorus utilization efficiency.

Keywords

• phosphorus limitation
• phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms
• microbial interactions
• microbial function
• synthetic communities (SynCom)