Pathobiome and microbial communities associated with forest tree root diseases

Abstract The forest pathology paradigm that one disease is caused by one pathogen is shifting toward a consideration of the complex ecological interactions among pathogens, microbial communities, tree host, and environment. Currently, rapidly evolving technologies have increasing potential to provide a wealth of novel information on complex ecological interactions that can enhance or suppress plant disease; however, these technologies and the resulting ecological information are not yet well developed for application to forest pathology and related microbial processes. This chapter explores a recently developed concept of the soil microbiome and provides current information on interpreting the myriad of interactions among host, soil-borne pathogens, soil microbial community, and soil environments in relation to forest diseases. Because studies on the interactions among the soil microbiome and forest pathosystems are in their initial stages, examples of applications are drawn from agricultural and/or cropping systems.