Browse Articles

Article|02 Jan 2026|OPEN
Plant health in the era of global changes, holobiont biology, and microbiome-based solutions
Edda Francomano1,4 , Meriem Miyassa Aci1,4 , Saveria Mosca1 , Nesma Zakaria Mohamed1,2 and Giovanni Enrico Agosteo1 , Maria Giulia Li Destri Nicosia1 , Antonino Malacrinò1,3,5 , , Leonardo Schena,1,5
1Department of Agriculture, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
2Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
3Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
4E.F. and M.M.A. should be considered joint first author
5A.M. and L.S. should be considered joint senior author
*Corresponding author. E-mail: amalacr@clemson.edu

Horticulture Research 13,
Article number: uhaf364 (2026)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf364
Views: 35

Received: 16 Jun 2025
Accepted: 25 Dec 2025
Published online: 02 Jan 2026

Abstract

Agriculture faces unprecedented challenges due to climate change, increasing food demand, and resource scarcity, which needs sustainable and innovative solutions. This review explores the emerging paradigm of holobiont biology (host and its microbiome as biological unit) in the context of emerging plant health challenges driven by global changes. We highlight three critical challenges: the rise of complex plant syndromes, the emergence and re-emergence of plant diseases, and the consequences of dysbiotic plant microbiomes. We discuss how microbiome-based strategies can enhance plant resilience, reduce reliance on agrochemicals, and foster sustainable agriculture. Integrating these strategies with advanced frameworks, such as holo-omics and machine learning, opens avenues for microbiome-based solutions to address agricultural challenges in the era of global changes, ensuring resilient crop systems and planetary health.