Holobiont and Its Applications in Agriculture， Environment and Health

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2026-0385

Abstract

Abstract:

In nature, plant and animal hosts are never isolated individuals. Instead, they are tightly integrated with their resident microbiomes into highly complex living systems. In recent years, the holobiont and hologenome theories have challenged the traditional binary symbiotic model, emphasizing that the host and its associated microbiome constitute an indivisible ecological and co-evolutionary unit. This review systematically examines the mechanisms of holobiont assembly and homeostasis maintenance. First, we elucidate the decisive roles of host genetic background, immune regulation, and environmental factors in microbial community assembly. Second, we explore the balance between stability and plasticity of vertical, horizontal, and mixed transmission strategies in maintaining the intergenerational homeostasis of holobionts, and reveal the co-evolutionary mechanisms of host-microbiome interactions in metabolic complementation and immune interplay. On this basis, the review discusses the translational application potential and current challenges of holobiont-targeted strategies in the early warning of agricultural diseases, crop trait improvement, complex disease interventions, and degraded ecosystem restoration. Future research urgently needs to shift from correlational descriptions to mechanistic elucidation, focusing on the identification and validation of core functional components. Constructing highly sensitive microbiome-based monitoring-intervention systems, and integrating technologies such as synthetic microbial communities, will provide solid theoretical guidance and a technical framework for sustainable agricultural development, human health management, and global ecological governance.

Key words: holobiont, hologenome, microbiome assembly, co-evolution

PAN Qian-qian, WANG Meng-cen. Holobiont and Its Applications in Agriculture， Environment and Health[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2026, 42(5): 27-36.

Figures/Tables 1

References 93

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