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

Courtney L. Tharp; Gordon F. Custer; Gabriel Castrillo; Francisco Dini-Andreote

doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015

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

Courtney L. Tharp
, Gordon F. Custer
, Gabriel Castrillo
, Francisco Dini-Andreote

Research output: Contribution to journal › Short survey › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	14-16
Number of pages	3
Journal	Trends in Plant Science
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015
State	Published - Jan 2026

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Plant Science

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10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015

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title = "Revisiting the cry-for-help hypothesis in plant–microbe interactions",

abstract = "The {\textquoteleft}cry-for-help hypothesis{\textquoteright} (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.",

author = "Tharp, \{Courtney L.\} and Custer, \{Gordon F.\} and Gabriel Castrillo and Francisco Dini-Andreote",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd.",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015",

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AU - Tharp, Courtney L.

AU - Custer, Gordon F.

AU - Castrillo, Gabriel

AU - Dini-Andreote, Francisco

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014006624

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014006624#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015

DO - 10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.015

M3 - Short survey

C2 - 40849283

AN - SCOPUS:105014006624

SN - 1360-1385

VL - 31

SP - 14

EP - 16

JO - Trends in Plant Science

JF - Trends in Plant Science

IS - 1

ER -

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

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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