Dear Colleagues,

Plants are in constant communication with their environment and a multitude of diverse organisms. Their growth is finely controlled by regulatory signals perceived by roots, which are then translated into local and systemic physiological responses involving the activation of both specific and partially overlapping metabolic networks. The rhizosphere in particular, is a complex and multifaceted dynamic environment consisting of an integrated network of plant roots, soil and microorganisms. In the rhizosphere, plant roots exert a variety of biological functions by actively affecting the structure and abundance of rhizosphere communities and the plant-plant relationships through the release of ions and molecules via root exudation. Interaction of plants with rhizosphere microorganisms and neighboring plants is of paramount importance for their capacity to acquire nutrients, especially when they are poorly available for root uptake. Therefore, molecular signals influencing these interactions and root cells receptors that perceive their information have a great relevance for sustainable plant ecosystem productivity.

This Special Issue aims to collect scientific contributions (in the form of reviews or original articles) that can gain more insight into the molecular signals that allow plants to communicate with the rhizosphere to get nutritional and health benefits. main sub-topics of this issue include:

- Molecular signals and receptors controlling plant-rhizosphere communication

- Modes of signal perception and transduction by roots

- Nutrient-hormone signaling and crosstalk in the rhizosphere and in the plant

- Rhizosphere factors influencing plant-nutrient sensing

- Plant interactions with rhizosphere microorganisms

- Plant-plant interactions

- Cutting-edge technologies for studying plant-rhizosphere interactions

- Rhizosphere engineering: natural and synthetic plant-microbe interactions

Dr. Michela Schiavon
Dr. Laura Zanin
Dr. Veronica Santoro
Guest Editors

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