Rhizospheric microbiomes as reservoirs for multifaceted agricultural, environmental, and industrial applications

The rhizospheric microbiomes associated with wild plant species represent an untapped reservoir of biodiversity with significant potential to transform industrial applications. This review collates recent research efforts aimed at harnessing the diverse functional roles of these microbial communities, with particular attention to the exemplary wild plants Moringa oleifera , Abutilon fruticosum , and Dipterygium glaucum . Our synthesis is anchored in datasets and case studies from the arid northwestern region of Saudi Arabia, particularly the Mecca area, where these wild plants and their highly adapted rhizospheric microbiomes provide model systems for broader arid and marginal agroecosystems. The central aim is to elucidate the impact of these soil microbiomes on sustainable agricultural practices, environmental remediation strategies, and biotechnological innovations. In particular, we synthesize current evidence on rhizospheric microbiomes of the wild plant species Moringa oleifera , Abutilon fruticosum , and Dipterygium glaucum , emphasizing their roles in sustainable agriculture, environmental remediation, and industrial biotechnology and how these systems can be harnessed as sources of eco-friendly bioinoculants, antibiotic resistance mitigation strategies, and novel enzymes and metabolites. We delve into strategies for the rational development of high-value biomolecules, exemplified by biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biocontrol agents derived from plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), underscoring their inherent capacity to enhance nutrient cycling, bolster plant health, and facilitate the design of efficacious bioinoculants. These bioinoculants are strategically positioned to modulate biotic and abiotic stress responses, concomitantly diminishing the dependence on environmentally deleterious chemical inputs. Furthermore, the attenuation of antibiotic resistance mediated by rhizospheric microbiomes is critically examined, alongside the potential for developing advanced diagnostic platforms for the rapid detection of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within complex agricultural systems. In addition, we explore the capacity of the wild plant soil rhizosphere to serve as a repository of novel enzymes and metabolites, with implications for diverse industrial sectors encompassing biofuel production, paper manufacturing, bioenergy production, and the development of cosmeceutical products. The functional characterization of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and other key enzymes within defined Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathways, coupled with a discussion of the speculative metabolic engineering potential of plants to potentiate beneficial plant-microbe interactions, are presented as pivotal strategies for unlocking the latent industrial potential of these complex rhizospheric microbiomes. • Wild plant rhizospheric microbiomes from arid ecosystems represent a vast, untapped source of biotechnological potential. • Emphasizes the development of sustainable biofertilizers, biopesticides, and bioinoculants derived from PGPR and AMF. • Discusses microbiome-mediated attenuation of antibiotic resistance and diagnostic strategies for ARG detection. • Highlights novel enzymes and metabolites with industrial relevance for biofuels, paper, bioenergy, and cosmeceuticals. • Integrates CAZyme and KEGG pathway analysis to illustrate metabolic potential and prospects for metabolic engineering.