Insights into plant-microbe interactions in urban rhizosphere: feedback from <i>Quercus cerris</i> L. root morphology, soil zymography, and microbial community composition in rhizobox system

Urbanization can have a substantial impact on rhizosphere activity by generating a hostile environment that hinders plant resource uptake. To study the effects of urbanization on plant-microbe interactions, Quercus cerris L. seedlings were cultivated in rhizoboxes with soil collected from non-urban, peri-urban, and urban forest sites in Campobasso, Italy. Urban and peri-urban soils showed higher enzyme activity, attributable to their nutrient content, that also caused root structural changes, modeling microbial communities. In particular, an increase in root diameter was found in urban and peri-urban soils while plants developed a root system ideal for exploring and/or exploiting the non-urban soil. Microbial community analysis revealed a higher number of phyla associated with cellular processes in non-urban soils while peri-urban and urban soils were dominated by phyla involved in metabolic pathways. This approach provides a framework for studying plant-microbe interactions, offering valuable insights to enhance urban area health and resilience.