Rhizosphere microbiome engineering with PGPR to combat soil-mediated climate change

Abstract

The synergistic effects of accelerated climate change and anthropogenic land-use shifts increasingly compromise the functional integrity of terrestrial ecosystems. To preserve soil health and ensure global food security, a transition toward biointensive, climate-smart agriculture is imperative. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the multifaceted role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as "rhizosphere architects," bridging global biogeochemical cycles with intricate molecular and digital interventions. Microbe mediated mitigation of atmospheric stressors is evaluated by monitoring increases in soil carbon sequestration and concomitant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Central to ecosystem recovery is the physiochemical regeneration of marginal and polluted soils, where PGPR facilitate the detoxification of xenobiotics, including heavy metals, microplastics, and organic contaminants, while promoting the structural restoration of degraded edaphic environments. At the tripartite plant-microbe-soil interface, the synergistic regulation of root system architecture (RSA) is investigated alongside the emerging role of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, as critical drivers of transgenerational stress memory against extreme climatic conditions. These molecular and structural shifts are functionally correlated with rhizosphere enzymatic activity, including specific enzyme fluxes (e.g., urease, phosphatase, and dehydrogenase), which serve as biochemical proxies for soil health restoration. To address the historical inconsistency of field inoculants, a translational framework is proposed that integrates Industry 4.0 technologies, such as AI-assisted bioformulation design and IoT-based precision monitoring, for real-time microbiome management. By discussing the translational hurdles of microbial competition and regulatory frameworks, this synthesis underscores how the fusion of microbial ecology and digital agriculture provides a robust pathway toward resilient terrestrial ecosystems and sustained agricultural productivity in the Anthropocene.