Plant-Soil Biota Interactions

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the relationship between the plant and soil/root microbiome and how this interaction impacts plant health and productivity (Chaparro et al., 2012; van der Heijden et al., 2008). It is known that there is a complex dialog between soil microbiome and plants, which can be mediated by root exudates. A role for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has also recently been investigated (Insam and Seewald, 2010; Mu ¨ ller et al., 2013). However, the actors involved in this conversation, and the ways in which they interact with each other, must still be elucidated. Thanks to the development of "-omics" tools (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, volatilomics), which are continuously in evolution, the microbiome "universe" will one day be understood. A better understanding of the rules for soil microbe/plant interactions will open the way for the manipulation of spe- cific microbiomes which will result in increased soil health and plant fertility (Chaparro et al., 2012).