Decoding Plant–Microbe Interactions through the Kiwifruit Microbiome in Bacterial Canker Disease

Numerous communities of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms live inside plants and colonize their internal and external tissues, having a significant impact on the health and functionality of the plants. Studies on infection specific microbiome interactions remain restricted in spite of broad studies of plant microbiome interactions. An excellent model for examining these interactions is kiwifruit bacterial canker (KBC), which is caused by <i>Pseudomonas syringae</i> pv <i>actinidiae</i> (Psa). The present understanding of Psa pathogenicity and kiwifruit-associated microbiomes in various ecological niches is summarized in this review with a focus on their dual functions of either promoting or suppressing disease. We identify important microbial taxa and interaction mechanisms that serve as ecological leverage points for KBC control mediated by the microbiome by incorporating recent findings. This perspective advances the conceptual shift from pathogen elimination to microbiome balance restoration, offering new insights into sustainable KBC management.