The fungal and archaeal community within plant rhizosphere: a review on their contribution to crop safety

Due to an increase in the world population, the urgent need to improve agricultural output has placed an immense strain on the agroecosystem. To achieve this objective, there is a need to take cognizance of soil microbiome to create an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers. In shaping the plant’s growth and ecosystem function, plant-microbial interplay in the soil plays a pivotal role. Studies on rhizosphere microbial functional diversity have largely been restricted to bacteria, but the discoveries on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and unceasing findings on plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) have revolutionized our view of microbial activities and motivating complexity of important microbes involved in plant soil. This review proffers a synopsis of current knowledge on the effects of fungal and archaeal groups on plants and factors controlling their ecology. It highlights the importance of exploring function-based analysis in archaeal and fungal studies with contrive priorities for future research.