《生命科学》 2026, 38(9): 1675-1687

微生物调控植物次生代谢的研究进展

高伯函¹ , 段宝忠² , 乔 雪^1,*

¹北京大学药学院，天然药物及仿生药物全国重点实验室，北京大学-云南白药国际医学研究中心，北京 100191 ²大理大学药学院，大理 671000

摘　要：

植物与微生物之间存在复杂的相互作用。从次生代谢的角度而言，微生物及其代谢物可诱导植物次生代谢重塑，而植物被调控后分泌的代谢物亦可反向驱动环境中微生物群落的重组。本文综述了微生物调控植物次生代谢的研究进展，包括：（1）系统总结了微生物介导的植物次生代谢调控表型；（2）基于有限的研究探讨了微生物对植物代谢等生理过程的调控机制；（3）基于代表性研究讨论了植物次生代谢物对微生物群落的反馈调节及生物学意义。现有研究表明，尽管微生物调控植物次生代谢的表型已被广泛报道与应用，但关键信号分子的挖掘严重滞后，表型观测与机制解析的关注重点不一致，反映植物-微生物互作全局规律的研究尚待加强。最后，本文对构建“信号分子诱导-植物代谢重塑-微生物组重构-协同反馈调节”全景研究的趋势进行展望，探讨了本领域拟解决的科学问题、面临的技术瓶颈及潜在的产业化应用前景。

通讯作者：乔 雪 , Email:qiaoxue@bjmu.edu.cn

Recent advances in microbial regulation of plant secondary metabolism

GAO Bai-Han¹ , DUAN Bao-Zhong² , QIAO Xue^1,*

¹State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Yunnan Baiyao International Medical Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China ²College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China

Abstract:

Plants and microorganisms engage in intricate interactions. From the perspective of secondary metabolism, microorganisms and their metabolites can induce remodeling of plant secondary metabolism. Conversely, plantsecreted metabolites, modulated by these interactions, can drive restructuring of ambient microbial communities. The complex interactions between microorganisms and plants are ubiquitous throughout the entire plant life cycle, exhibiting extreme dynamism. These interactions profoundly impact plant secondary metabolism and other physiological activities, collaboratively shaping ecosystem dynamics. This review summarizes recent advances in microbial regulation of plant metabolism, covering: (1) a systematic summary of microbial-mediated phenotypes in plant secondary metabolism regulation; (2) an exploration of microbial regulatory mechanisms on plant physiological processes, mainly metabolism, based on currently limited studies; (3) a discussion, drawing from representative studies, of feedback regulation by plant secondary metabolites on microbial communities and its biological significance. Key findings of the review indicate: (1) Regulation of plant secondary metabolism by microorganisms and their metabolites is widespread. Functional strains from bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Rhizobium, and fungal genera like Glomus and Rhizophagus, are most frequently reported for their regulatory effects. (2) The mechanism by which microbial signaling molecules regulate plant metabolism primarily involves interference with plant immune systems and hormone signaling pathways, thereby affecting expression of genes related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis. (3) A continuous interactive cycle based on secondary metabolites exists between plants and microorganisms. This cycle ultimately drives plant metabolic remodeling, alteration of physiological states, and promotes directed restructuring of environmental microbial communities. Despite widespread reporting and application of phenotypes where microorganisms regulate plant secondary metabolism, discovery of key signaling molecules lags significantly. An inconsistency in research focus also exists between phenotypic observation and mechanistic elucidation, highlighting a need to strengthen research on overarching principles governing plant-microbe interactions. Finally, this review anticipates the trend towards constructing a panoramic research framework encompassing ″signaling molecule induction-plant metabolic remodeling-microbiome restructuring-synergistic feedback regulation″. It further discusses scientific questions to be addressed, technical bottlenecks encountered, and potential industrial applications in this field.

Communication Author：QIAO Xue , Email:qiaoxue@bjmu.edu.cn