Plant communication with associated microbiota in the spermosphere, rhizosphere and phyllosphere

Plants are surrounded with microorganisms whose abundance is promoted by the release of plant organic compounds and by the presence of niches favourable to microbial development and activities. These microorganisms thrive in three main plant compartments, i.e., spermosphere, rhizosphere and phyllosphere, which are interconnected. They are recruited from the environment (soil, atmosphere) and from the mother plant via the seed. Plants indeed modulate the composition and activities of the hosted microbial populations through complex communication trackways relying on trophic interactions and/or molecular signalization. The tuning of these interactions by the plant favours beneficial microbial populations and activities while depressing deleterious ones, which have a major impact on plant growth and health. This review presents the current knowledge of the plant communication with associated microorganisms in the spermosphere, rhizosphere and phyllosphere and of plant and microbial traits involved. Possible prospects of application of this knowledge for monitoring plant–microbe interactions in agroecological systems with reduced chemical inputs are discussed