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. 2025 Aug 22:S1360-1385(25)00223-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015. Online ahead of print.

Revisiting the cry-for-help hypothesis in plant-microbe interactions

Courtney L Tharp  1 , Gordon F Custer  2 , Gabriel Castrillo  3 , Francisco Dini-Andreote  4
Affiliations

Revisiting the cry-for-help hypothesis in plant-microbe interactions

Courtney L Tharp et al. Trends Plant Sci. .

Abstract

The 'cry-for-help hypothesis' (CHH) is broadly used to study how root exudate modulation under stress influences recruitment of beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere. Here, we explored common misconceptions and limitations of the CHH and advocate for the reassessment of this prevalent hypothesis to unfold the ecological complexities of plant-microbe interactions.

Keywords: abiotic stress; exudates; microbial ecology; microbial traits; rhizosphere.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.

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