The Microbially Extended Phenotype of Plants, a Keystone against Abiotic Stress

Abstract

Background: Climate change affects every region across the globe with heterogeneous effects on local temperatures and precipitation patterns. In plants, sessile organisms, climate change imposes more drastic effects leading to loss of yield or even death. However, plants establish mutualistic interactions with microorganisms that boost plant tolerance against abiotic stresses or strengthen the plant immune system against pathogens, thus, enhancing their survival and fitness. Moreover, in the wild, microbial endophytes provide important ecosystem services.

Keywords

• abiotic stress
• climate change
• phenotypic plasticity
• endophyte
• mutualism