Mechanisms and Research Progress of Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms in Promoting Sustainable Crop Production

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for crop growth, but soil-available phosphorus is commonly lacking. Conventional chemical P fertilizers suffer from low utilization efficiency and dependence on finite phosphate rock reserves, necessitating the urgent development of green and efficient alternative strategies for phosphorus management. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are capable of converting insoluble inorganic and organic phosphorus in soils into plant-available forms, thereby serving as key biological resources for enhancing phosphorus use efficiency, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. This review systematically covers the taxonomic diversity and multifaceted applications of PSMs, elucidates the mechanisms of inorganic P solubilization and organic P mineralization, and separately summarizes recent advances in functional genes involved in inorganic and organic P degradation. It further identifies key bottlenecks restricting PSM development and envisions the use of emerging technologies to transition PSM inoculants from empirical screening toward rationally designed precision deployment, thereby strengthening the scientific and technological foundation for enhancing phosphorus use efficiency and promoting green agricultural sustainability.