root-exudates

Root exudates are organic compounds—including sugars, amino acids, and metabolites—released by plant roots into the surrounding soil. These exudates are essential to plant science because they fundamentally shape soil microbial communities and enable nutrient acquisition, directly affecting plant health and growth. Understanding root exudates is critical for comprehending plant-soil interactions, plant physiology, and the establishment of symbiotic relationships that influence plant nutrition and stress tolerance.