Editing Microorganism (section)

===Plants and soil===
{{Main |Soil biology}}

The [[nitrogen cycle]] in soils depends on the [[nitrogen fixation|fixation of atmospheric nitrogen]]. This is achieved by a number of [[diazotroph]]s. One way this can occur is in the [[root nodule]]s of [[legumes]] that contain symbiotic [[bacteria]] of the genera ''[[Rhizobium]]'', ''[[Mesorhizobium]]'', ''[[Sinorhizobium]]'', ''[[Bradyrhizobium]]'', and ''[[Azorhizobium]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Barea, J. |author2=Pozo, M. |author3=Azcón, R. |author4=Azcón-Aguilar, C. | title=Microbial co-operation in the rhizosphere | doi= 10.1093/jxb/eri197 | journal=J Exp Bot | volume=56 | issue=417 | pages=1761–1778 | year=2005 | pmid=15911555| doi-access=free }}</ref>

The [[root]]s of plants create a narrow region known as the [[rhizosphere]] that supports many microorganisms known as the [[root microbiome]].<ref name="Gottel">{{Cite journal|doi=10.1128/AEM.05255-11|pmid=21764952|pmc=3165402|title=Distinct Microbial Communities within the Endosphere and Rhizosphere of Populus deltoides Roots across Contrasting Soil Types|journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology|volume=77|issue=17|pages=5934–5944|year=2011|last1=Gottel|first1=Neil R.|last2=Castro|first2=Hector F.|last3=Kerley|first3=Marilyn|last4=Yang|first4=Zamin|last5=Pelletier|first5=Dale A.|last6=Podar|first6=Mircea|last7=Karpinets|first7=Tatiana|last8=Uberbacher|first8=Ed|last9=Tuskan|first9=Gerald A.|last10=Vilgalys|first10=Rytas|last11=Doktycz|first11=Mitchel J.|last12=Schadt|first12=Christopher W.|bibcode=2011ApEnM..77.5934G}}</ref>

These microorganisms in the [[root microbiome]] are able to interact with each other and surrounding plants through signals and cues. For example, [[mycorrhizal fungi]] are able to communicate with the root systems of many plants through chemical signals between both the plant and fungi. This results in a mutualistic [[symbiosis]] between the two. However, these signals can be eavesdropped by other microorganisms, such as the [[soil bacteria]], ''Myxococcus xanthus'', which preys on other bacteria. Eavesdropping, or the interception of signals from unintended receivers, such as plants and microorganisms, can lead to large-scale, evolutionary consequences. For example, signaler-receiver pairs, like plant-microorganism pairs, may lose the ability to communicate with neighboring populations because of variability in eavesdroppers. In adapting to avoid local eavesdroppers, signal divergence could occur and thus, lead to the isolation of plants and microorganisms from the inability to communicate with other populations.<ref>{{Cite journal| last  = Rebolleda-Gómez |first=M. |last2=Wood |first2=C. W. |title=Unclear Intentions: Eavesdropping in Microbial and Plant Systems |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |year=2019 | volume=7 |issue=385|doi=10.3389/fevo.2019.00385 |doi-access=free }}</ref>