Abstract Although it is known that multiple interactions among plant functional traits, microbial properties, and abiotic soil parameters influence the nutrient turnover, the relative contribution of

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Microbial and Cellular Mechanisms in Crop Biofortification: Implications for Nutrient Bioavailability and Human Health (2026) · doi

  The future of crop biofortification is not just about increasing the amount of nutrients in crops, but about making those nutrients truly useful for human health. In recent years, progress in plant molecular biology, rhizosphere microbiology, and nutrition science has made it possible to develop crops that are richer in micronutrients, easier for the body to absorb, and better able to withstand environmental stress. Moving forward, it is important to better understand the genes, transport systems, regulatory networks, and microbial processes that control how nutrients are Plant Crop Letters (2026), 7: 20-37 32 taken up, moved, stored, and retained in edible parts of plants. At the same time, reducing anti-nutritional compounds and improving the chemical form of stored nutrients will be key to ensuring that higher nutrient levels in crops actually translate into better human nutrition. New biotechnological tools are opening exciting possibilities in this field. Techniques like genome editing, synthetic biology, multi-omics approaches, microbiome engineering, and advanced bioinformatics can help fine tune plant traits with much greater precision. These tools also make it easier to understand the complex relationships between soil, plants, microbes, and human nutrition. With these advances, it will be possible to develop biofortified crops that perform well in different environments and meet the needs of diverse diets. In particular, there is growing interest in microbiome-responsive and climate resilient approaches, especially in regions where poor soils, water stress, and high levels of micronutrient deficiency exist together. Overall, future progress will depend on combining agriculture, nutrition, and environmental science into a single integrated approach. Another important step is to generate strong real world evidence showing that eating biofortified crops actually improves human health. Long term studies are needed to track nutrient absorption, health biomarkers, immune function, growth, and overall development across different age groups and dietary settings. These studies should also consider differences in human biology, gut microbiome composition, cooking and food processing methods, and social and economic factors that affect diet. In the end, the success of biofortification should not only be judged by nutrient levels in crops, but by real improvements in human health and a meaningful reduction in micronutrient deficiencies at the population level. CONCLUSION Biofortification of crops has become an important scientific approach for addressing micronutrient deficiencies by improving the nutritional quality of staple foods. Its significance lies in offering an integrated solution that brings together agriculture, plant physiology, microbiology, biotechnology, and human nutr

  Keywords: crops human nutrients health plant nutrition biofortification biology better important nutrient levels microbiome micronutrient future
• Editorial: Interplay between plant nutrient uptake and abiotic stress (2026) · doi

  The studies compiled in this Research Topic collectively illus- trate the complexity of the interplay between nutrient uptake and abiotic stress. Future research should focus on integrating molec- ular, physiological, and ecological approaches to better understand these interactions. In particular, combining multi-omics technolo- gies with field-based studies will be essential for translating funda- mental discoveries into practical applications. Moreover, future efforts should prioritize the integration of root–microbiome interactions, high-throughput phenotyping, and machine learning approaches to predict plant performance under stress conditions. Improving nutrient use efficiency and optimizing nutrient management strategies, alongside breeding stress-resilient crop varieties, will be crucial for achieving sustainable agricultural production under changing environmental conditions.

  Keywords: nutrient stress future approaches interactions conditions compiled topic collectively illus trate complexity interplay uptake abiotic
• Influence of plant traits, soil microbial properties, and abiotic parameters on nitrogen turnover of grassland ecosystems (2016) · doi

  Abstract Although it is known that multiple interactions among plant functional traits, microbial properties, and abiotic soil parameters influence the nutrient turnover, the relative contribution of each of these groups of variables is poorly understood.

  Keywords: abstract known multiple interactions among plant functional traits microbial properties abiotic soil parameters influence nutrient