Microbial Inoculants: Silver Bullet or Microbial Jurassic Park?

Positive results from using microbes in restoration and agricultural research coupled with changing technology have led to increased interest scaling up commercializing microbial inoculants as biostimulants bioprotectants. Ecological has not kept pace microbiome regards the effect that these introduced on resident plant soil communities, resulting ecosystem services. Are we unleashing, or already unleashed, a tool meant for betterment of society cannot control may wreak havoc ecologically? Here, discuss potential consequences human-assisted invasions. We review current regulatory structures USA provide general set practices decrease probability escaping their intended use becoming invasive The appeal mediate traits productivity managed ecosystems over past decade, because represent an alternative fertilizers, pesticides, direct genetic modification plants. Using bypasses many societal environmental concerns products are considered more sustainable benign technology. In our desire harness power plant–microbial symbioses, ignoring possibility precipitating invasions, potentially setting ourselves Jurassic Park? outline negative invasions describe (Testing, Regulation, Engineering, Eradication, TREE) based four stages invasion prevent invasive. aim stimulate discussion about best proactively enemy, antagonist, competitor used pest weed. collection curation biological samples (plants, animals, microorganisms) identify functions, organic compounds, and/or material agriculture, restoration, medicine, industrial production. biologically derived product organism (e.g., extract, PGPR) protects plants biotic abiotic stressors. substance microorganism that, when applied seeds, plants, rhizosphere, stimulates natural processes enhance benefit nutrient uptake, efficiency, tolerance stress, crop quality yield. soils capacity establishment pathogens usually attributed interactions rhizosphere. benefits humans obtain ecosystems, such cycling, food production, carbon sequestration, pollination, detoxification soil, air, water). nondisease-causing organisms live inside tissue, mycorrhizal fungi, dark septate endophytic rhizobia. fungi form symbiotic relationships roots exchange nutrients, nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P), plant-derived carbon, protection pathogens, increase stress. AMF widespread, obligate improve acquisition nutrients especially phosphorus. Ectomycorrhizal (EMF) facultative associate woody thought primarily access N. virus infects bacteria archaea (bacteriophage) (mycophage). rhizosphere growth. legumes, which rhizobia receive fixed by receives N root nodules. immediate area surrounding is directly influenced exudates, root-associated microbes, other biota. flourish areas low stress high disturbance fast growing, colonize rapidly, short generation time. rule thumb suggests 10% non-native species will progress one step process next.