Forest Microbiomes and Symbiotic Interactions: Community Assembly, Functional Traits, and Ecosystem Consequences

Forests are complex ecosystems shaped by exceptionally diverse microbiomes found throughout their soils, roots, stems, leaves, and woody tissues. These microbial communities, which include fungi, bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses, are central to ecosystem processes, influencing everything from nutrient cycling and plant health to forest productivity and resilience. Symbiotic relationships such as mycorrhizal associations, nitrogen-fixing organisms, and various root or foliar endophytes play indispensable roles in plant establishment and stress tolerance, yet the mechanisms controlling their assembly remain poorly understood. Recent research has highlighted how environmental filters, host genetic factors, dispersal constraints, and biotic interactions shape forest microbiome composition at multiple scales, from individual roots to entire landscapes. However, as forests face mounting pressures from climate change, pollution, land-use shifts, invasive species, and altered disturbance regimes, the structure and functionality of these microbial networks, and their subsequent influence on key forest functions, are rapidly evolving. Current evidence suggests profound ecosystem consequences, yet numerous knowledge gaps remain, especially concerning how specific symbiotic interactions drive these changes.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the principles and processes underlying the assembly of forest microbiomes and the functional traits that mediate symbiotic interactions between microbes and their host trees. By addressing current challenges in connecting microbial diversity to measurable ecosystem outcomes, the topic seeks to advance both theoretical and applied understanding in forest microbial ecology. Key objectives include identifying the drivers and rules of microbial community assembly, deciphering which functional traits are expressed in situ, and determining how these traits collectively shape critical forest properties such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and resilience to drought or disturbance. The goal is to move beyond descriptive studies by highlighting research that uncovers causal links, predicts ecosystem consequences, and explores the potential for harnessing microbiome function in forest management and conservation.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses investigations that clarify the assembly mechanisms, functional expressions, and ecological impacts of forest microbiomes and their symbiotic associations. Studies may focus on any forest compartment or successional stage, with an emphasis on mechanistic, process-based, and integrative approaches. To foster a comprehensive synthesis, we invite contributions exploring, but not limited to, the following themes:o Environmental, host, and spatial factors driving microbiome assembly across forest compartmentso Genetic and phenotypic determinants of host-microbe recruitment and specificityo The effects of priority, dispersal, and scale on microbial community structureo Functional traits of symbionts and microbiomes in relation to stress tolerance, nutrient acquisition, and ecological specializationo Networks of interaction among microbes, plant hosts, and other organisms such as herbivoreso Changes to microbiome structure and function in response to disturbance, management, or global changeo Methodologies integrating field, laboratory, and modelling approaches, including multi-omics and trait-based analysesWe welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, Methods papers, Hypothesis & Theory contributions, and Brief Research Reports. This Research Topic aims to unify diverse perspectives and approaches to improve the prediction, management, and conservation of forest ecosystem functions through a deeper understanding of microbiome and symbiotic system dynamics. Topic editors: Dr. Abdelhak Rhouma, Govindaraj Kamalam Dinesh, Ayushman Malakar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80920/forest-microbiomes-and-symbiotic-interactions-community-assembly-functional-traits-and-ecosystem-consequences